New Survey Highlights Need for Greater Preventive Action to Address Vision Impairment Across Asia Pacific

• Asia shoulders a disproportionate burden with nearly two-thirds of the world’s moderate-to-severe vision impairments.1 

• 90% of vision impairment is preventable or treatable with appropriate care.2

• While 91% of adults over 40 worry about their vision health, only 28% report undergoing annual or more frequent eye exams. One in three delay seeking care until symptoms appear, and 12% have never seen an eye care professional.

• Vision impairment not only affects the daily life of those impacted and their carers – it represents a significant economic burden to society – costing the global economy US$411 billion in lost productivity each year.3

Singapore, April 23, 2025 – A new APAC Vision Health Survey, commissioned by Roche, reveals a stark disconnect between vision health concerns and preventive action across Asia Pacific – while 91% of adults over 40 express concern about their vision health, only 28% report undergoing annual or more frequent eye exams. The survey provides insights into vision health awareness, behaviours, and challenges throughout the region. These findings take on particular significance considering external research shows that 90% of vision impairment is preventable or treatable with appropriate care.4

The findings come at a pivotal time for APAC, which bears a disproportionate burden of vision impairment, accounting for nearly two-thirds of moderate-to-severe vision impairment cases worldwide.5 With an ageing population and diabetes on the rise – two factors that significantly increase the risk of vision impairment – addressing preventable vision impairment has become an urgent priority for both individuals and society.6,7,8 According to the Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health, vision impairment results in an estimated US$411 billion in productivity losses each year – underscoring the broader economic cost of delayed detection and treatment.9

"The survey results reflect what we see in clinical practice. There is both an urgent need and a clear opportunity for the healthcare community to develop more effective approaches to vision health," said Professor Andrew Chang, Vitreoretinal Surgeon and Ophthalmologist, Sydney Eye Hospital and Secretary-General of the Asia Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS). "This means raising awareness among the public and high-risk groups about the importance of early screening. It also means integrating vision care into existing healthcare frameworks like diabetes and geriatric care and using technology to create more accessible pathways for all patients. By working together across the healthcare ecosystem, we can significantly improve vision health outcomes throughout Asia Pacific."

Five key findings from the APAC Vision Health Survey:

1. The personal impact of vision impairment is huge. Losing your vision affects far more than just your eyesight. Survey respondents say they fear losing their ability to carry out everyday tasks like cooking or cleaning (68%), driving or using public transportation (53%), and even keeping their jobs (46%). Many also worry about losing their independence (39%) or struggling with their mental health (38%). Caregivers are also hit hard, with 95% reporting significant challenges such as emotional distress, financial strain, and exhaustion.

2. The prevention paradox: people are worried – but uptake of preventive care is low. There is a clear gap between the concerns that people have for their vision and the preventive actions that they take. Even though 91% say they are concerned about vision impairment, only 28% report attending annual or more frequent eye checks. A third say they wait until symptoms appear before seeking help, and 12% have never seen an eye care professional. Regular eye exams are an important part of finding eye diseases early to protect vision.10

3. Diabetes raises the risk – but many do not get checked. Two-thirds of respondents with diabetes report experiencing vision symptoms such as blurred vision or floaters. Despite these symptoms, one-third of these individuals do not attend annual eye exams – missing the chance to detect problems early, when treatment could be more effective.11 The main barriers to seeking care include cost concerns (37%), time constraints (24%), and insufficient awareness about the importance of eye screenings (20%). This is a pressing issue – in 2021, the Western Pacific Region had an estimated 206 million people living with diabetes, the most of any region globally.12, 13

4. Many think losing their sight is just part of getting older. The survey data demonstrates a high general acceptance of age-related vision impairment: an overwhelming 94% believe age-related vision impairment is inevitable – a belief that may discourage people from seeking regular checks that can catch issues early, before they get worse.14 In addition, older adults are at higher risk for vision impairment,15 yet less than 6 in 10 respondents aged 60+ report attending regular eye exams – missing a critical window for early intervention.

5. Awareness of retinal diseases is low. Most people do not know much about retinal conditions, such as diabetic macular oedema (DME), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or retinal vein occlusion (RVO), that have the potential to cause vision impairment. Specifically, the survey found that 59% of respondents are not at all familiar with RVO, 42% with DME, and 29% with AMD. According to published studies, an estimated 200 million people worldwide live with AMD,16 while diabetic retinopathy and DME are leading causes of vision impairment among the working-age population in developed countries.17

The research engaged 4,354 adults aged 40 and over across eight markets: Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The study was conducted to better understand people's perceptions of vision health, its connection to ageing and diabetes, and their awareness of specific retinal diseases, contributing new evidence to the vision care landscape.

“This survey doesn't just highlight challenges – it identifies where change in vision care is urgently needed," says Ahmed Elhusseiny, Area Head, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Asia Pacific. "The economic and human costs of delayed intervention are simply too high. What's clear from these findings is that we need innovative approaches to bridge the awareness-action gap and strengthen prevention efforts — helping more people access the care they need and preserve their vision for longer. At Roche, we're committed to collaborating with healthcare stakeholders across the region to support sustainable solutions that address the growing impact of vision impairment. When vision health becomes a priority across healthcare systems, we all benefit – patients, families, and society as a whole."

Read more about the APAC Vision Health Survey here:

The Vision Care in APAC — Understanding the Societal and Economic Burden Insights Report brings together findings from the APAC Vision Health Survey, complemented by insights derived from publicly available research and evidence from leading global health institutions. By integrating real-world experiences with global evidence, the report provides an overview of the evolving landscape of vision care in Asia Pacific and identifies emerging opportunities to enhance care delivery in partnership with existing systems. Download the report at: https://go.roche.com/apacvisionhealthsurvey

The APAC Vision Health Survey explores unmet needs in vision care and the impact of vision impairment. The survey was commissioned to understand perceptions of vision health, its relationship with ageing and diabetes, and awareness of retinal diseases and general vision care.

The study, conducted by GWI on behalf of Roche, gathered responses from 4,354 individuals aged 40 and above across eight APAC markets, including Australia [502], Hong Kong [476], Malaysia [607], Philippines [478], Singapore [604], South Korea [510], Taiwan [570], and Thailand [607].The questionnaire used multiple choice questions and captured self-reported behaviours and perspectives related to vision health and healthcare. Conducted online, the survey was offered in English, Korean, Malay, Tagalog, Thai, and Traditional Chinese.

The questionnaire used multiple-choice questions to capture self-reported perceptions and behaviours related to vision health and healthcare. As with all survey-based research, responses may reflect common biases such as recall bias or social desirability bias. Overall sample sizes per market are statistically sufficient, though caution is advised when interpreting smaller sub-groups. While this survey presents regional trends based on aggregated APAC data, market-level variation exists and findings should be interpreted in the context of local health system structures and population dynamics. Additionally, in calculating certain averages, a midpoint estimation method was applied for some questions. Although this provides a reasonable approximation, it may not fully reflect the distribution of responses in all cases.

The findings offer meaningful directional insights into public attitudes and behaviours around vision health in APAC and are intended to complement existing evidence. Supported by well-established data on the socio-economic burden of vision impairment, the survey highlights areas where policy, education, and access to care can be strengthened alongside other established sources.

Roche is focused on saving people’s eyesight from the leading causes of vision impairment through pioneering therapies. Through our innovation in the scientific discovery of new potential drug targets, personalised healthcare, molecular engineering, biomarkers and continuous drug delivery, we strive to design the right therapies for the right patients.

Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from clinical practice.

In recognising our endeavour to pursue a long-term perspective in all we do, Roche has been named one of the most sustainable companies in the pharmaceuticals industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the thirteenth consecutive year. This distinction also reflects our efforts to improve access to healthcare together with local partners in every country we work.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com

Shilpika Das, e-mail: