Table 5

Comparison between visual impairment estimates in the world using existing definitions and estimates using revised definitions.

Number of persons in the world with blindness

Number of persons in the world with visual impairment less severe than blindness

Estimates made by WHO using existing ICD definitions [5]

37 million with blindness

(best-corrected visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye)

124 million with low vision

(best-corrected visual acuity less than 6/18 to 3/60 in the better eye)

Estimates by us using the proposed revised ICD definitions

57 million with blindness

(presenting visual acuity less than 6/60 in the better eye)

202 million with moderate visual impairment

(presenting visual acuity less than 6/18 to 6/60 in the better eye)

Dandona and Dandona BMC Medicine 2006 4:7   doi:10.1186/1741-7015-4-7