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A US study on eye disease prevalence reported a 23 per cent increase in the number of over 40s with vision impairment and blindness since the turn of the millennium. The Vision Problems in the US report, released by Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute, found a 19 per cent increase in cataracts, 22 per cent increase in glaucoma and 89 per cent increase in diabetic retinopathy. Late AMD among patients over 50 was up 25 per cent.

Sponsorship of international pre-registration optometrists has been approved after the College of Optometrists was granted a licence by the UK Border Agency this week. The College applied for the licence as a result of changes preventing non-European Economic Area students from completing their pre-registration period (News 27.04.12). The College said the fee per trainee would be £500, to cover the cost of administering the scheme.

Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have found a correlation between certain age groups and astigmatism. One in 10 people between 21 to 30 years old had astigmatism of more than 2.00D while refractive astigmatism (1.00D) spiked in those over the age of 60. Research team leader Dr Kee Chea-su added: 'There were two peaks in the prevalence of manifest astigmatism: one in young adults aged between 21 to 30 years old (38.1 per cent) and another in elderly above 60 years old (41.8 per cent).'

Growth of 2.5 per cent is predicted in the global ophthalmology device market between 2011 and 2015, according to latest figures by TechNavio. It cited a higher prevalence of vision disorders including myopia and age-related macular degeneration, while the trend of contact lenses 'being used as a beautifier' was also identified. TechNovia said the key vendors dominating market space were Essilor, Alcon, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Hoya and Bausch + Lomb.