Report finds Covid-19 impact on eye health gender inequity

 A report from The Fred Hollows Foundation and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) suggested the redeployment of resources to contain the spread of Covid-19 may have exacerbated gender inequity in eye health.

'The impact of COVID-19 on eye health disparities: uncovering and addressing critical challenges' report, published in the Community Eye Health Journal, reviewed data on eye health systems in 26 countries and found the pandemic’s impact led to significant cataract treatment backlogs that could take years to resolve. 

Amanda Davis, director of strategic initiatives at The Fred Hollows Foundation, said: ‘Our review of cataract services found that the pandemic may have exacerbated existing inequities, particularly with women and girls. In every country the study surveyed, there was a reduction in the proportion of women and girls accessing eye health services.’