In high-income settings where cataract surgery is routine, which conditions become the leading concerns for permanent blindness?

Answer

AMD, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy

The profile of leading causes of blindness shifts substantially based on socioeconomic development and access to care. In low- and middle-income nations, treatable issues like cataracts often dominate the prevalence statistics. However, in more developed, high-income settings where procedures like cataract surgery are readily accessible and performed effectively, the focus shifts towards chronic, degenerative diseases that are harder to resolve with a single intervention. Specifically, Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy become the primary drivers of permanent, irreversible blindness in these areas because they require continuous, ongoing systemic management rather than a one-time surgical correction.

In high-income settings where cataract surgery is routine, which conditions become the leading concerns for permanent blindness?
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