ArabicChineseEnglishFrenchRussianSpanish
WHO home
  WHO > Health topics

Blindness

Blindness is the inability to see. The leading causes of chronic blindness include cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacities, diabetic retinopathy, trachoma, and eye conditions in children (e.g. caused by vitamin A deficiency). Age-related blindness is increasing throughout the world, as is blindness due to uncontrolled diabetes. On the other hand, blindness caused by infection is decreasing, as a result of public health action. Three-quarters of all blindness can be prevented or treated.

RELATED SITES

- Prevention of blindness and visual impairment

FACT SHEETS

- Magnitude and causes of visual impairment

PUBLICATIONS

- Publications: blindness

RELATED LINKS

- Combating vitamin A deficiency
- Chronic diseases

FEATURES

- Q&A: What are refractive errors?
- Face to face with chronic disease

- Ten facts about blindness and visual impairment


WHO 60th anniversary logo
WHO 60th anniversary


KEY WHO INFORMATION

Director-General
Director-General and senior management

Governance of WHO
WHO Constitution, Executive Board and World Health Assembly

Media centre
News, events, fact sheets, multimedia and contacts

International travel and health
Publication on travel risks, precautions and vaccination requirements

World Health Report
Annual report on global public health and key statistics