Economic burden of blindness and moderate to severe vision impairment in Slovenia

Blindness and moderate to severe vision impairment (MSVI) represent a substantial health and economic burden. This study aimed to provide the first population-level estimates of healthcare expenditures and sickness absenteeism costs associated with blindness and MSVI in Slovenia. In this economic evaluation study, the analysis of direct healthcare costs from the third-party payer’s perspective was based on population-level reimbursement claims data while indirect costs due to absenteeism were estimated using the human capital method. Hospitalized patients with diagnoses H54.0-H54.3 (according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) or users of assistive aids for individuals with blindness and MSVI who were still alive in 2022 were included in the study. For this target population of patients, the burden of blindness and MSVI was estimated by considering eye diseases and other health conditions strongly associated with vision-impartment (injuries, depression and anxiety). Among 4,153 blind and MSVI patients included in this study, 256 (6.2%) were younger than 18 years, and 3,161 (76.1%) were aged 60 years or older; 2,542 (61.2%) were female. Direct healthcare costs in 2022 amounted to €5,539,173 (€1,334 per patient). Only 3.3% of these costs were related to people under 18 years of age. A total of 80.3% of the costs were related to eye diseases, 17.1% to injuries, and 2.5% to depression and anxiety disorders. The largest share of direct healthcare costs was attributable to outpatient care (45.1%), followed by drugs and assistive aids for individuals with blindness and MSVI (34.5%), and hospitalizations (20.4%). Absenteeism costs ranged between €298,885 and €342,192 (€5,978–€6,844 per absentee). In Slovenia, vision loss represents a substantial economic burden, which is expected to increase due to population aging and growth. To mitigate the increasing burden of vision loss, effective strategies for prevention, early detection, optimal treatment, and long-term management of eye diseases are warranted.