Demography and age-dependency in ophthalmic diseases

This article explains key terms in demography and describes current and future changes in the composition of the German population. The ratio of older persons is greatly increasing as age groups from higher birth rates are growing older and as the life expectancy continues to rise particularly for older age groups. Ophthalmology is highly affected by these societal changes as eye diseases particularly affect the elderly. The prevalence of blindness and low vision is increasing in the older population even though this increase is being overlapped by a general reduction in the risk of blindness. Up to more than 30 % more age-related eye diseases are expected in the population by the year 2030, which will lead to an additional roughly 7.7 million ophthalmic consultations in the population of more than 60 years of age. The healthcare units need to be adjusted to the rising demand for ophthalmic care.