Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 8 authors, 8 centres
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This systematic review and economic modelling analysis assessed benefit-cost ratios of correcting refractive errors and cataracts in low- and middle-income countries. The median benefit-cost ratio across studies was 36, approximately six times higher than the typical global development intervention ratio of 6.
The systematic review identified 33 outcomes, of which 17 were used for benefit-cost analyses; the median benefit-cost ratio was 36. Thirteen outcomes addressed refractive error correction in school students. The economic model for India produced benefit-cost ratios ranging from 28 for vision centres to 42 for school eye screening, with an aggregate ratio of 31. These returns substantially exceeded the typical global development investment ratio of 6. The authors note that the results are not precise estimates but represent plausible returns that warrant further research.
