What trends will have the most impact?
What trends (e.g., aging population, new technology) will have the greatest impact on ophthalmology and eye care in the next five to 10 years?
ICO/IFOS Strategic Planning:
Forum on the Future
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26 Comments:
Our ability to translate new knowledge for the benefit of most people in the world will have the most impact. The fruits of all forms of Translational Research will have value only when they can be applied to problems that produce the greatest magnitude of disability.
26 April, 2006 10:49
I think that technology will have the greatest impact along with the fall of barriers and free transfer of knowledge. This will make Ophthalmic knowledge more readily available and improve on services world wide
26 April, 2006 10:52
As always the prevention of diseases will have the greatest impact on ophthalmology, in all regions, poor or rich countries. How and who can prevent the diseases is the key to success, in my opinion.
27 April, 2006 02:21
The idea of customizing ( and sometimes extrapolating)the newer and everchanging technologies to the relevant needs of the individual regions will have the greatest impact.
27 April, 2006 06:20
As others have said, changing demographics and emerging technology. But that is most determinant in the past! The future is likely to be driven to a greater degree than previously by "health system reform" (who will be paid, for doing what, to what degree, and at what places); by reimbursement rates; and by dramatic flows of human capital.
27 April, 2006 08:08
Demographic factors affecting the world population.
Emerging global standards of ophthalmic care and global expectations of patients.
Advances in ophthalmic technology and ophthalmic patient care.
28 April, 2006 10:03
although demographic change and technology are undoubtely important, the biggest challenge is the pace of change and the involvement of so many other players in the eye care field, not all of whom will wait for ophthalmology to catch up. We need to be proactive and not reactive
28 April, 2006 16:50
The most impact may be
1. Conflict between
ophthalmologists and
optometrists and/or opticians
2. Government policy to provide
budget for rapid-expanded eye
health care
28 April, 2006 20:19
Recognition of necessity of more global activities to accomplish national goals
Perception of necessity of more political action
Emerging of global standards of educational and professional care
01 May, 2006 16:23
1. Who does what? We need to define what we mean by "ophthalmologist" internationally; we need to be open to delegation of services and be thoughtful whether this changes from locale to locale; we need to clarify educational programs so that we can compare apples to apples internationally
2. Who pays for eye care? Access just keeps getting tougher; new meds are raising costs even more
3. "Bookends" of age demographics: will old people just be allowed to go blind? Will infants have access to treatments for treatable conditions- ROP, RB, congenital glaucoma and cataract? Clearly the population growth internationally tends to be where medical/ ophthalmic services are sparse.
02 May, 2006 11:16
Aging population will be the leading problem in the western World, with low vision and inherent problems (typical is bone fractures in the elderly due to low vision).
I would guess that technology will be pushed more and more by industry without real medical needs.
In the third world there will be still the need of surgery (typically cataracts). It would be important that Industries have no direct access to naif customers, so that money would be wasted. ICO could offer consultations to "poor" Countries before they commit themselves in large expenses
02 May, 2006 11:18
We live in a time in which science develops in a exponential mode. Therefore, it is to be hoped that new technology, methods and treatments will shape Ophthalmology for the next future.
04 May, 2006 06:11
(From a pediatric ophthalmology viewpoint)
There has been an increased awareness and commitment by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in international and national organizations on the eye problems of children in developing countries and mid-income countries. With that has come the establishment of some tertiary centers for children’s eye care. The obstacles that exists are:
• The lack of training facilities for pediatric ophthalmologists in mid-income and developing countries. There are only a few that exist now (e.g., Aravind Eye Hospital in India, Al-Shifa Hospital in Hyderabad, etc.) and this amount is grossly inadequate to train the necessary numbers of pediatric ophthalmology doctors to meet the demand. The market economies continue to assist in some training, but licensing problems, finances, etc. limit the number that can be, so an effort should be made to assist in the development of more of these countries. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) has been trying to get a list of training institutions that have tertiary care units and training institutions that exists in the world, and also put together some information on curriculum in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus training.
• Safe anesthesia is necessary and efforts should be made to help individuals giving anesthesia for children to increase their skills and instrumentation necessary to be able to safely operate on infants. If we are to do early surgery, which is necessary for things like congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma, retinoblastoma, this is a key part that needs to be addressed.
• As neonatal services improve in mid-income and developing countries, more low birth weight children survive and there will be significant increase in retinopathy of prematurity. Often the ophthalmologists in these areas are not skilled or knowledgeable to meet the demand for screening and treatment of the premature children. This trend will do nothing but increase in the next year because it is an example of improved medical care causing the emergence of a new disease.
08 May, 2006 07:59
Aging population and increasing standards of vision requested in various jobs will have the greatest impact on ophthalmology and eye care in the next future.
08 May, 2006 08:29
The increasing inequity in human and material resources in eye care.
08 May, 2006 15:36
1. Demographics – aging of the population.
2. Globalization.
3. Vast wealth creation – rise of China and India (manufacturing has the potential to relocate to India in a significant way – similar to the software industry in Silicon Valley seeking the educated work force in India)
4. Further decline in Africa.
5. World poverty (Africa, areas of Asia and Latin America).
6. Increased infectious disease. Devastation of the Avian Flu would be much greater than AIDS.
7. Governments unable or unwilling to pay for health, e.g., U.S. (large uninsured population) or China (large population and growing wealth).
8. Middle East – radical Islam.
9. Internet – easy communication, one-on-one throughout the world.
10. Huge advances in pharmacology – pharmacogenomics.
11. Nanoscience and huge advances in devices.
12. Disruptive technologies, e.g., computerized distribution of expertise.
08 May, 2006 16:56
We should poise ourselves to make use of the incredible scientific advances which are going to come about in the near future. These include genetics, gene transfer, stem cell research, regeneration, proteomics, pharmacogenetics, and nanotechnology. These will revolutionize our concept of diagnosis and treatment and usher in the era of regenerative medicine. We need to acquire and access this information, organize it, assist in the development of translational research, and make this knowledge available on the Internet. The quality of the Internet will itself improve exponentially, and with the advent of virtual reality, enable teaching at levels of sophistication previously unattainable. This increased sophistication in teaching can then lead to greater access to scientifically advanced medical treatment on a much more widespread basis.
08 May, 2006 18:45
Aging Population.
09 May, 2006 01:52
a. What my field of expertise concerns, I would definitely say the accommodative IOL with full control over PCO.
Effect: - correction of high ametropia
- correction of presbyopia
- correction of congenital and nutritional cataract in children
b. In other fields of ophthalmology:
- Control over ocular infection causing severe corneal opacities by better hygiene regulation and distribution of the adequate medication.
- Glaucoma and its early treatment
10 May, 2006 01:24
Huge gap in the availability and quality of eye care in rich and poor countries, with most people unaware of the inequities and inequalities
- Oversupply of ophthalmologists in developed countries and undersupply in developing countries, resulting in overtreatment and undertreatment
- Lack of understanding of what the ICO does, particularly among IFOS organizations
11 May, 2006 01:57
Aging population 40 -85 of age
Cataract surgery
Glaucoma surgery
ARMDtreatment
Diabetic retinopathy
11 May, 2006 10:25
I think the following trends will have the greatest impact on ophthalmology and eye care over the next 5-10 years:
(a) Ageing population.
(b) Increasing awareness of what ophthlamology can offer and a demand for it.
(c) Limitation of National resources to pay for these demands.
(d) Search for ways of delivering high standards of care at affordable prices through (1) involvement of all grades of medical staff
(2) organisation of patients, hospital and clinics and (3) new technology.
31 May, 2006 02:10
The new advancements in ophthalmology (e.g. treatment of macular degeneration, treatm,ent with stem cells, etc.)
02 June, 2006 23:09
cost effectivity: example..single dose of azithromycin in trachoma v. laser referactive surgery.
skills redistribution:optometrist screeners/nurse evaluators to liberate ophthalmologists to concentrate on what they are trained for,
the atrophy of the general ophthalmologist and their replacement by sub-specialists: refractive surgeopns, medical retinal in evolving wet AMD treatments
05 June, 2006 15:22
DOG - Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft, German Society of Ophthalmology:
In our view the greatest impact on ophthalmology and eye care within the next 5 to 10 years will be caused by the aging societies in industrialized nations.
07 June, 2006 04:22
1.The gradual aging of our population increase the burden of our society
2.The quality and quantity of eye care was strongly influence by National Insurance Policy in Taiwan
3.Huge gap in the availability and quality of eye care in rich and poor countries, with most people unaware of the inequities and inequalities
4.Oversupply of ophthalmologists in developed countries and undersupply in developing countries, resulting in over treatment and under treatment
5.Emergence of new therapeutic technology such as (1)anti-orgiogenic therapy for retinal neovascularization (2)stem cell therapy (3)gene therapy (4)electronic eye(5)accommodative IOL.
6.Preventive-ophthalmology, especially proliferating diabetic retinopathy and high myopic retinopathy in East- Asia.
7.Cataract in developing country
14 June, 2006 22:58
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