Social determinants in ocular diseases

cial determinants in ocular diseases Commentary (3307) Total Article Views Authors: Reza Gharebaghi, Fatemeh Heidary, Roghayeh Heidary, et al Published Date December 2010 Volume 2010:2 Pages 119 - 120 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S15290 Reza Gharebaghi1, Fatemeh Heidary1, Roghayeh Heidary1, Mohammad Reza Vaez Mahdavi2 1Middle East Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran; 2Social Justice and Health Department, Shahed University Medical Sciences Research Center, Tehran, Iran Abstract: Data on the prevalence of blindness indicate that developing countries have a higher incidence of blindness. Additionally, some studies indicate that inequality of access to suitable eye care services may contribute to visual impairments. Social determinants of health are general circumstances shaped by a wider set of forces: economic, social, and political. We suggested, for the first time, close collaboration between international agencies at the global level in order to evaluate and monitor the role of social determinants in ocular diseases and to implement new strategies to overcome social factors that limit access to eye care services. This idea has been named 'social determinants in ocular diseases'. These collaborations may present new insights into the effect of social determinants on visually impaired individuals during the period until the achievement of VISION 2020.