The DOI matches its Crossref record; 33 of the 34 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Economic burden of blindness and visual impairment in Germany from a societal perspective: a cost-of-illness study
Abstract
Background Visual impairment and blindness cause a considerable and increasing economic burden affecting not only persons with vision loss and their families, but also societies. For the majority of countries, there is no solid database that would allow a comprehensive assessment of costs from a societal perspective. The present study was conducted to fill this gap. Objectives To investigate resource utilization of blind or visually impaired people and to assess the economic burden of blindness and visual impairment in Germany. Methods This cross-sectional cost-of-illness study measures the economic burden of blindness and visual impairment bottom-up and from a societal perspective. Therefore, blind and visually impaired persons were recruited via national self-help organizations (prevalence-based approach) and interviewed regarding their utilized resources using various survey modes (mixed-mode approach). The observation period was 6 months retrospectively. Utilized resources were valued applying standardized unit costs (macro-costing). Calculations for the study population provided direct and indirect costs per person for a period of 6 months. Further cost per category was extrapolated to 1 year for the general population of Germany. Uncertainty of results was addressed applying univariate deterministic sensitivity analyses. Results Complete data were collected from 683 participants (54.84% women; average age: 60.28 ± 17.02 years). Decreasing vision was associated with incr…
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The economic burden associated with blindness can be substantial, particularly in LMICs, where it can be up to over US$4000 per blind person per year.
“The subsequent economic burden associated with blindness can be substantial, particularly in LMICs, where it can be up to over US$ 4000 per blind person per year22–24.”
From Economic evaluation for medical artificial intelligence: accuracy vs. cost-effectiveness in a diabetic retinopathy screening case (2024) · cites this paper as [23]
Citations
Cites
Lecture Notes in Computer Science 1205
(1999) · Industrial Robot the international journal of robotics research and application · doi:10.1108/ir.1999.04926fae.001 · Cited by 39,228
Revisiting the Behavioral Model and Access to Medical Care: Does it Matter?
Andersen, R. M. (1995) · Journal of Health and Social Behavior · doi:10.2307/2137284 · Cited by 9,831
Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine
(1996) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195108248.001.0001 · Cited by 7,193
Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine
(2016) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190492939.001.0001 · Cited by 1,552
Modeling Health Care Expenditures and Use
Deb, P., & Norton, E. C. (2018) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013517 · Cited by 412
Briggs, A. H., OʼBrien, B. J., & Blackhouse, G. (2002) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.23.100901.140534 · Cited by 404
Economic Impact of Visual Impairment and Blindness in the United States
Frick, K. D. (2007) · Archives of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1001/archopht.125.4.544 · Cited by 253
Krauth, C., Hessel, F. P., Hansmeier, T., Wasem, J., Seitz, R., & Schweikert, B. (2005) · Das Gesundheitswesen · doi:10.1055/s-2005-858698 · Cited by 226
The economic burden of visual impairment and blindness: a systematic review
Köberlein, J., Beifus, K., Schaffert, C., & Finger, R. P. (2013) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003471 · Cited by 226
Self-citationThe economic impact of sight loss and blindness in the UK adult population
Pezzullo, L., Streatfeild, J., Simkiss, P., & Shickle, D. (2018) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-018-2836-0 · Cited by 218
Bock, J.-O., Brettschneider, C., Seidl, H., Bowles, D., Holle, R., Greiner, W., & König, H. (2014) · Das Gesundheitswesen · doi:10.1055/s-0034-1374621 · Cited by 212
Briggs, A. H., & Gray, A. M. (1999) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7210.635 · Cited by 206
The economic impact and cost of visual impairment in Australia
Taylor, H. R. (2006) · British Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.080986 · Cited by 190
Cruess, A. F., Zlateva, G., Xu, X., Soubrane, G., Pauleikhoff, D., Lotery, A., Mones, J., Buggage, R., Schaefer, C., Knight, T., et al. (2008) · PharmacoEconomics · doi:10.2165/00019053-200826010-00006 · Cited by 126
Incidence of Blindness and Severe Visual Impairment in Germany: Projections for 2030
Finger, R. P., Fimmers, R., Holz, F. G., & Scholl, H. P. N. (2011) · Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science · doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6987 · Cited by 114
Self-citationPrevalence and causes of registered blindness in the largest federal state of Germany
Finger, R. P., Fimmers, R., Holz, F. G., & Scholl, H. P. N. (2011) · British Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1136/bjo.2010.194712 · Cited by 96
Self-citationThe Economic Impact of Blindness in Europe
Chakravarthy, U., Biundo, E., Saka, R. O., Fasser, C., Bourne, R., & Little, J. (2017) · Ophthalmic Epidemiology · doi:10.1080/09286586.2017.1281426 · Cited by 71
Economic Cost of Visual Impairment in Japan
Roberts, C. B. (2010) · Archives of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.86 · Cited by 70
Kastaun, S., Brown, J., Brose, L. S., Ratschen, E., Raupach, T., Nowak, D., Cholmakow-Bodechtel, C., Shahab, L., West, R., & Kotz, D. (2017) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4328-2 · Cited by 64
Survey Design for Visually Impaired and Blind People
Kaczmirek, L., & Wolff, K. G. (2007) · Lecture Notes in Computer Science · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73279-2_41 · Cited by 38
Neovaskuläre altersabhängige Makuladegeneration in Deutschland
Pauleikhoff, D., Scheider, A., Wiedmann, P., Gelişken, F., Scholl, H. P. N., Roider, I., Mohr, A., Zlateva, G., & Xu, X. (2008) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-008-1797-9 · Cited by 31
Kawasaki, R., Akune, Y., Hiratsuka, Y., Fukuhara, S., & Yamada, M. (2014) · Ophthalmic Epidemiology · doi:10.3109/09286586.2014.988876 · Cited by 30
Epidemiologie hochgradiger Sehbehinderungen und Blindheit älterer Menschen in Deutschland
Mauschitz, M. M., Li, J. Q., Larsen, P. P., Köberlein–Neu, J., Holz, F. G., Breteler, M. M. B., & Finger, R. P. (2019) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-019-0853-y · Cited by 24
Self-citationBlindheit in Deutschland: Dimensionen und Perspektiven
Finger, R. P. (2007) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-007-1600-3 · Cited by 23
Self-citationNonmedical economic consequences attributable to visual impairment
Lafuma, A. J., Brézin, A. P., Fagnani, F., Jeanbat-Mimaud, V., Mesbah, M., & Berdeaux, G. (2006) · The European Journal of Health Economics · doi:10.1007/s10198-006-0346-1 · Cited by 20
The Reliability of Data Collection Periods of Personal Costs Associated with Vision Impairment
Lamoureux, E. L., Chou, S., Larizza, M. F., & Keeffe, J. E. (2006) · Ophthalmic Epidemiology · doi:10.1080/09286580500536781 · Cited by 16
Methoden zur Ermittlung persönlicher Krankheitskosten am Beispiel retinaler Erkrankungen
PORZ, G., Scholl, H. P. N., Holz, F. G., & Finger, R. P. (2010) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-009-2036-8 · Cited by 11
Self-citationSchwander, B. (2014) · Health Economics Review · doi:10.1186/s13561-014-0027-1 · Cited by 10
Köberlein–Neu, J., Seifert, A., & Himmelsbach, I. (2018) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-018-0704-2 · Cited by 8
Self-citationEvaluation der Versorgungssituation von Sehbehinderten
Oeverhaus, M., Hirche, H., Esser, J., Eckstein, A., & Schaperdoth-Gerlings, B. (2018) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-017-0643-3 · Cited by 7
„Versorgungsmedizinische Grundsätze“
Schiltenwolf, M. (2019) · Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie · doi:10.1007/s41785-019-0975-0 · Cited by 7
Volkswirtschaftliche Kosten von Augenerkrankungen
Hirneiß, C., Kampik, A., & Neubauer, A. S. (2014) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-013-2921-z · Cited by 5
Krankheitskosten der altersbedingten Makuladegeneration
Gibbert, J., Müller, D., Fauser, S., & Stock, S. (2013) · Der Ophthalmologe · doi:10.1007/s00347-012-2750-5 · Cited by 4
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 34 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Deutsches Institut für medizinische Dokumentation und Information (DIMDI): ICD-10-GM Kapitel VII Krankheiten des Auges und der Augenanhangsgebilde (H00–H59) (ICD-10-GM Chapter VII Diseases of the eye and its appendages (H00-H59)) (2015)
- Lange, C.: Ergebnisse der Studie “Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell 2012” (Facts and figures. Results of the study “Health in Germany Current 2012”). Beiträge zur Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Robert-Koch-Inst, Berlin (2014)
- Robert Koch-Institut: Blindheit und Sehbehinderung (Blindness and visual impairment). Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin (2017)
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The economics of vision impairment and its leading causes: A systematic review
Marques, A. P., Ramke, J., Cairns, J., Butt, T., Zhang, J. H., Jones, I., Jovic, M., Nandakumar, A., Faal, H., Taylor, H., et al. (2022) · eClinicalMedicine · doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101354 · Cited by 137
Wang, Y., Liu, C., Hu, W., Luo, L., Shi, D., Zhang, J., Yin, Q., Zhang, L., Han, X., & He, M. (2024) · npj Digital Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41746-024-01032-9 · Cited by 76
Optogenetics for visual restoration: From proof of principle to translational challenges
Lindner, M., Gilhooley, M. J., Hughes, S., & Hankins, M. W. (2022) · Progress in Retinal and Eye Research · doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101089 · Cited by 68
Cost-effectiveness analysis of myopia management: A systematic review
Agyekum, S., Chan, P. P. M., Zhang, Y., Huo, Z., Yip, B. H. K., Ip, P., Tham, C. C. Y., Chen, L. J., Zhang, X. J., Pang, C. P., et al. (2023) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1093836 · Cited by 31
Uhrmann, M. F., Lorenz, B., & Gissel, C. (2020) · Translational Vision Science & Technology · doi:10.1167/tvst.9.9.17 · Cited by 26
Kralik, J., & Kleinlogel, S. (2021) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms222111515 · Cited by 18
Swaminathan, S. S., Medeiros, F. A., & Gedde, S. J. (2024) · American Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2024.06.024 · Cited by 17
Boverhof, B.-J., Ramos, I. C., Vermeer, K. A., de Vries, V. A., Klaver, C. C. W., Ramdas, W. D., Lemij, H. G., & Mölken, M. R. (2025) · Value in Health · doi:10.1016/j.jval.2025.06.006 · Cited by 16
Kessel, L., Kjellberg, J., Nissen, K. R., Rasmussen, A., & la Cour, M. (2022) · Ophthalmic Genetics · doi:10.1080/13816810.2022.2089359 · Cited by 16
Burden and depression among informal caregivers of visually impaired patients in Mexico
Ruiz‐Lozano, R. E., de la Rosa-Pacheco, S., Hernández‐Camarena, J. C., Garza‐Garza, L. A., Davila‐Cavazos, O., Domínguez‐Varela, I. A., Quiroga-Garza, M. E., & Rodríguez-García, A. (2022) · Disability and health journal · doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101284 · Cited by 14
Pablo, L., Garay‐Aramburu, G., García‐Layana, A., Fernandez, A., Vázquez, I., Acebes, X., Zulueta, J., Balonga, D., Salinas-Ortega, L., Muñoz, Á., et al. (2024) · Health Economics Review · doi:10.1186/s13561-024-00546-y · Cited by 13
Hong, C. Y., Boyd, M., Wilson, G., & Hong, S. C. (2022) · Clinical ophthalmology · doi:10.2147/opth.s362342 · Cited by 12
Surgery Versus ATMPs: An Example From Ophthalmology
Magrelli, F. M., Merra, A., & Pellegrini, G. (2020) · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.00440 · Cited by 11
Ding, Y., Liu, Y., Hou, X., Tian, Y., Du, W., & Fan, L. (2022) · Public Health · doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2022.02.012 · Cited by 10
Association Between Visual Impairment and Health Care Use
Hou, C., & Pu, C. (2021) · American Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2021.07.033 · Cited by 10
Lopes, N., Dias, L. L. D. S., Ávila, M., Japiassú, R. M., Muccioli, C., Bordon, A. F., Arantes, T. E. F. E., Tanaka, T., Júnior, J. J. N., Casella, A., et al. (2021) · Advances in Therapy · doi:10.1007/s12325-021-01672-3 · Cited by 10
Bewusstsein für eine Glaukomerkrankung in der Bevölkerung
Stingl, J. V., Greslechner, R., Brandl, C., Heid, I. M., mann, E. M. H., Pfeiffer, N., & Schuster, A. K.-G. (2023) · Die Ophthalmologie · doi:10.1007/s00347-023-01943-0 · Cited by 8
Interaction between native and prosthetic visual responses in optogenetic visual restoration
Carpentiero, E., Hughes, S., Rodgers, J., Xhaferri, N., Biswas, S., Gilhooley, M. J., Hankins, M. W., & Lindner, M. (2025) · JCI Insight · doi:10.1172/jci.insight.190785 · Cited by 8
US Health Resource Utilization and Cost Burden Associated with Choroideremia
Dong, S., Tsao, N., Hou, Q., Bozkaya, D., & Leroy, B. P. (2021) · Clinical ophthalmology · doi:10.2147/opth.s311844 · Cited by 7
The importance of visual health—a representative population survey
Fink, D. J., Terheyden, J. H., Berger, M., Holz, F. G., Pfeiffer, N., Schuster, A. K.-G., & Finger, R. P. (2022) · Deutsches Ärzteblatt international · doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0200 · Cited by 7
Self-citationLazzaro, C., van Steen, C., Billeit, S., Frauenknecht, H., Kallen, C., Pfennigsdorf, S., Thelen, U., & Angelillo, L. (2022) · Clinical ophthalmology · doi:10.2147/opth.s351013 · Cited by 6
Effects of the First COVID-19 Lockdown on Ophthalmological Patient Care
Schuh, A., Kassumeh, S. A., Schmelter, V., Demberg, L., Siedlecki, J., Anschütz, A., Kreutzer, T. C., Mayer, W. J., Kohnen, T., Shajari, M., et al. (2021) · Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde · doi:10.1055/a-1529-6726 · Cited by 6
Fang, S., Liang, H., & Liang, Y. (2023) · International Journal for Equity in Health · doi:10.1186/s12939-023-02048-5 · Cited by 6
Lazzaro, C. R., van Steen, C., Billeit, S., Frauenknecht, H., Kallen, C., Pfennigsdorf, S., Thelen, U., & Angelillo, L. (2022) · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cited by 5
Near Vision but not Hearing Loss is Associated with Lacking a Usual Source of Health Care
Simning, A., Caprio, T. V., Li, Y., & Conwell, Y. (2021) · Journal of Aging and Health · doi:10.1177/08982643211014323 · Cited by 5
Yang, T., Wang, W., Xie, L., Chen, S., Ye, X., Shen, S., Chen, H., Qi, L., Cui, Z., Xiong, W., et al. (2024) · Journal of Neuroscience Methods · doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110181 · Cited by 4
Wolfram, C. (2024) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65929-8_4-1 · Cited by 3
A decade of early benefit assessment of ophthalmic drugs in Germany: success story or not?
Dintsios, C. (2021) · Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research · doi:10.1080/14737167.2021.1930532 · Cited by 2
Risk of visual impairment according to the comorbidity of systemic and ocular diseases
Choi, J., Choi, Y. J., Kim, K. L., Kim, Y.-K., Park, S. P., & Na, K. I. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0307011 · Cited by 3
Hughes, S., Rodgers, J., Lindner, M., Peirson, S. N., Lucas, R. J., & Hankins, M. W. (2025) · Molecular Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.07.056 · Cited by 2
Na, K. I., Lee, W. J., & Kim, Y. K. (2023) · Journal of Korean Medical Science · doi:10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e213 · Cited by 2
Carga económica de la degeneración macular neovascular y el edema macular diabético en Colombia
Gil-Rojas, Y., Amaya-Granados, D., Sardi, C., Robles, A., & Hernández, F. (2023) · Revista Sociedad Colombiana de Oftalmología · doi:10.24875/rsco.23000015 · Cited by 2
Parra, A., Zorrilla-Muñoz, V., Martı́nez, G., & Fernández, E. (2024) · European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education · doi:10.3390/ejihpe14050097 · Cited by 2
KILIÇ, K., & Tepeli, K. (2025) · Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Özel Eğitim Dergisi · doi:10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.1575969 · Cited by 1
ŞAHİN, F. T., & İşlek, Ö. (2026) · İnönü Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu Dergisi · doi:10.33715/inonusaglik.1686265 · Cited by 1
Akhtar, S., Ashraf, S., Buja, A., Khalil, I. A., Albalawi, O., Ahmad, F., Khan, M., & Ali, A. (2026) · Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare · doi:10.3389/fcdhc.2026.1758759 · Cited by 2
Јаnkovic, S., & Petrović, N. Z. (2022) · Galenika Medical Journal · doi:10.5937/galmed2204008j · Cited by 2
Han, L., Jia, J., & Wang, L. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-95906-7 · Cited by 1
Jaśkowiak, K., Stopa, M., Krawczynski, M. R., Niewada, M., & Golicki, D. (2021) · Klinika Oczna · doi:10.5114/ko.2021.111731 · Cited by 1
Ocular responses to biomaterials
Gorbet, M., Toameh, D., Postnikoff, C., & Pintwala, R. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-102967-1.00031-1
Visual impairment/blindness large economic burden in Germany
(2019) · PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News · doi:10.1007/s40274-019-6242-6
Han, L., Jia, J., & Wang, L. (2020) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-87688/v1
Sneha, S., Singh, A., Singh, A., Bhadauria, M., Burgess, C., & Mugula, L. (2023) · International Journal of E-Adoption · doi:10.4018/ijea.316538
PERCEIVING NEEDS FELT BY THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT
Monteiro, I., Breda, A., & Duarte, R. (2023) · EDULEARN proceedings · doi:10.21125/edulearn.2023.0377
Prävalenz und Epidemiologie der Glaukome
Schuster, A. K.-G., & Stingl, J. V. (2024) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65929-8_2-1
Wolfram, C. (2025) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65823-9_4
Prävalenz und Epidemiologie der Glaukome
Schuster, A. K.-G., & Stingl, J. V. (2025) · Springer Reference Medizin · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65823-9_2
The economic burden of diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness in Saudi Arabia
Elsisi, G. H., Alhumaidan, A., Alturaiki, A., Kareem, H. A., Abu-Shraie, N., Judaibi, R. M. A., & Alshehri, S. (2026) · Health Economics Review · doi:10.1186/s13561-026-00721-3
Taipale, J., Purola, P. K. M., Nättinen, J., Väätäinen, S., Koskinen, S. V. P., & Uusitalo, H. (2026) · Acta ophthalmologica · doi:10.1111/aos.70060
Vision-related quality of life in patients suffering from coexisting glaucoma and cataract
Farahani, M., Azimi, A., Mosavi, S. A., Karimi, F., & Daneshvar, R. (2026) · Malaysian Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.35119/myjo.v8i2.507
Canepa, M., Serafino, M., Striano, P., & Ramenghi, L. A. (2026) · Frontiers in Pediatrics · doi:10.3389/fped.2026.1894390
Metadata
- Authors
- Chuvarayan, Y., Finger, R. P., & Köberlein-Neu, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Wuppertal (DE)
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Venue
- The European Journal of Health Economics
- Published
- 2019-09-06
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 115-127
- ISSN
- 1439-3972 (ISSN-L)
- 1618-7598
- 1618-7601
- OpenAlex
- W2971850946
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 4.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The European Journal of Health Economics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Dr. Werner Jackstädt-Stiftung (Date_09072014)
- Novartis Pharma (Date_26112014)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Glaucoma and retinal disorders
- Keywords
- blindness, visual impairment, economic burden, social costs, resource utilization (health care), informal care, productivity loss, assistive devices, early retirement, Germany
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blindness, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Expenditures, Female, Germany, Health Resources, Health Services, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Models, Econometric, Cost of Illness
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
