Mexico

Blindness in Mexico

With a population of over 127 million, Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking nation in the world. The country has made tremendous strides in combating some forms of preventable blindness. In April 2017, it became the first country in the Americas to eliminate trachoma, an eye disease caused by bacteria that leads to scarring and vision loss.

However, other diseases remain prevalent. More than half a million people in Mexico are completely blind from cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. An estimated 2.3 million people have cataracts, leading to $33.2 million in productivity losses. According to the World Health Organization, over 10% of the population suffers from diabetes. Consequently, rates of blindness caused by diabetes are expected to skyrocket in the near future.