Ophthalmologists look to technology to bridge gaps in vision impairment: Roche report

The Asia-Pacific region, home to just over half of the world’s population, shoulders a disproportionate burden of vision loss – accounting for nearly two-thirds of moderate-to-severe vision impairments globally.

The Roche APAC Vision Health Survey, which polled 4,354 people aged 40 over across eight Asia-Pacific countries (including 502 Australians), has revealed stark differences between local and regional concerns about eye health. In Australia, the fear of losing independence due to vision impairment is significantly higher (62.9%) than in the broader Asia-Pacific (39.1%). Similarly, more Australians worry about the risk of social isolation caused by impaired vision (24% vs. 14.4%).

Yet despite these anxieties, awareness of serious retinal diseases remains low. Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular oedema – all of which have effective, PBS-listed therapies including Roche’s Vabysmo (faricimab) – remain under-recognised by the community.

Professor Andrew Chang, Vitreoretinal Surgeon and Head of Ophthalmology at the Sydney Eye Hospital, Secretary-General of the APVRS and member of the survey steering committee, said, “The insights from this survey are eye-opening, revealing unmet needs for patients and their communities that are highly significant for Australian and Asia-Pacific eye care practitioners and policymakers.”

He added, “There is an urgent need and a clear opportunity to develop more effective approaches to eye health that integrate vision care into existing healthcare frameworks such as diabetes management and aged care. At least 90% of vision impairments can be prevented or treated. We need to raise awareness of the importance of early screening, particularly in high-risk patient groups.”

The survey report points to a growing appetite for digital health solutions to break down barriers to care. Clinicians highlighted the role of telehealth and AI-assisted screening in overcoming geographical challenges and expanding access to early detection.

Dr Mårten Brelén, Associate Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said “As populations age across APAC, community-based screening approaches and technologies like AI for early detection become increasingly important. By fostering collaboration across healthcare sectors, we can build comprehensive services that help preserve independence and quality of life for older adults, reduce the burden on loved ones, and enable seniors to age with dignity while remaining active contributors to their communities.”

From Roche’s perspective, the survey results provides critical insight into a major healthcare gap.

“Despite our research revealing significant concern over vision impairment, we know that preventive vision care is often neglected. It is critical that we understand what motivates and drives people to prioritise their eye health,” said Dr Nic Horridge, General Manager of Roche Products Australia.

“We hope this research provides the ophthalmic community with a platform to advocate for early detection, preventive care, and system change to counter vision impairment in Australia’s ageing population.”

The survey findings will be showcased globally at the 25th EURETINA Congress in Paris (4–7 September), and later this year by Professor Chang at the APAC Roche Ophthalmology Week (AROW) meeting in Melbourne (19–21 September).

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