Three Major Blindness-Causing Eye Diseases Surge in Five Years... "Need for National Screening Program"

9.54 Million Patients Treated for the Three Major Eye Diseases Over Five Years
Number in 2024 Is 1.4 Times Higher Than in 2020

The three major eye diseases that can cause blindness have surged over the past five years, but early diagnosis remains difficult as they are not included in the national health screening program.

According to data submitted by Assemblyman So Byunghoon of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, based on information from the National Health Insurance Service on October 13, a total of 9,538,289 patients received treatment for the three major blindness-causing eye diseases (glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy) over the past five years, with total medical expenses amounting to 4.8054 trillion won.

From 2020 to 2024, the number of patients treated was 9,538,289 in total. In 2024 alone, the figure reached 2.17 million, about 1.4 times higher than in 2020. The number of patients with diabetic retinopathy increased by about 10.3%, from 348,000 to 384,000 during the same period. Glaucoma cases rose by approximately 26.7%, from 965,000 to 1,223,000. Macular degeneration cases increased by about 184%, from 199,000 to 566,000.

All three diseases are retinal disorders, which are major causes of adult blindness. According to Assemblyman So's office, the increase in patient numbers is attributed to population aging and a rise in the number of diabetes patients.

An analysis by age group showed that the three major blindness-causing eye diseases tend to increase rapidly from age 40 and above. For diabetic retinopathy, 373,821 patients aged 40 or older accounted for 97.3% of all cases. For glaucoma, 1,093,872 patients aged 40 or older represented 89.4% of all cases. For macular degeneration, 559,940 patients aged 40 or older made up 98.9% of all cases.

These diseases have almost no symptoms in their early stages, making early detection virtually impossible. Glaucoma typically manifests visual field loss only in its late stages, and many patients with macular degeneration visit the hospital only after losing central vision. Diabetic retinopathy also often progresses without symptoms. However, the current national health screening program only includes basic vision tests or intraocular pressure measurements, which are insufficient for effective early diagnosis.

Professional organizations such as the Korean Ophthalmological Society and the Korean Retina Society have recommended including fundus photography, which can detect early changes in the retina and optic nerve, as part of the national health screening program. In major countries abroad, regular fundus examinations for the elderly and diabetes patients have become standard practice.

Assemblyman So stated, "Blindness-causing eye diseases require prevention more than treatment, but under the current health screening system, many opportunities for early diagnosis are missed." He added, "It is necessary to discuss improving the health screening program so that everyone can receive fundus examinations at regular intervals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.