Vision health is emerging as a critical but under-addressed component of public health in Asia Pacific. In a region where populations are rapidly ageing and diabetes is on the rise, a new Roche-commissioned APAC Vision Health Survey reveals stark gaps between awareness and action—despite 91% of adults over 40 expressing concern for their eyesight. In this Q&A, BioPharma APAC speaks with Ahmed Elhusseiny, Area Head of Roche Pharmaceuticals in Asia Pacific, who delves into the survey’s insights, the growing burden of retinal diseases, and why integrating vision care into chronic disease pathways, digital innovation, and public-private collaboration is vital to shaping a more inclusive and preventive eye care ecosystem.

"A new APAC Vision Health Survey, commissioned by Roche, explores unmet needs in vision care and the impact of vision impairment. The survey was undertaken to understand perceptions of vision health, its relationship with ageing and diabetes, and awareness of retinal diseases and general vision care. The study gathered responses from 4,354 individuals aged 40 and above across eight APAC markets. The findings offer meaningful directional insights into public attitudes and behaviours around vision health in APAC and are intended to complement existing evidence."

The survey reveals a concerning gap between awareness and preventive action. In your view, what specific strategies could most effectively close this gap in high-risk groups like older adults and those with diabetes?

The survey findings indicate that 91% of adults over 40 are concerned about their vision health, with 1 in 5 expressing extreme concern. Despite high concern about vision health, only 28% receive annual eye checks, 1 in 3 seek care only when symptoms arise, and 12% never visit an eye care professional. This pattern was seen across the general population and higher-risk groups, such as people living with diabetes or older adults – both of which exist at disproportionately higher rates in the Asia-Pacific region compared to other parts of the world. This awareness-action gap is especially concerning given that roughly 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with appropriate care, making this a clear opportunity for earlier intervention.

One of the most impactful ways to improve the uptake of preventive care among high-risk groups is by integrating vision care into healthy aging initiatives and chronic disease management programs. Integration can ensure high-risk groups are routinely screened as part of existing care pathways. This is particularly important, given that, by 2050, one in four people in the region will be aged 60 or older—as well as APAC’s acute regional challenges with diabetes’ prevalence and disease burden. Public health messaging also plays a key role, particularly in addressing misconceptions, such as the belief that vision loss is an inevitable part of ageing.

Expanding the capacity of the primary care workforce is another long-term priority, especially in areas with limited specialist access, where it can significantly improve reach. Better use of data, including national vision registries and real-world evidence, can also support more informed planning and resource allocation. Increasing patient awareness and promoting proactive eye care are also crucial to bridging this gap.

Closing the awareness–action gap will require collaboration across the entire healthcare ecosystem. When providers, policymakers, NGOs, and industry work together to support early action, strengthen capabilities, and embed vision care into broader health strategies, we can help more people preserve their sight, and reduce preventable vision loss across the region.

Given the survey findings, how can healthcare systems in Asia Pacific better integrate vision health into chronic disease management programs, especially for conditions like diabetes and hypertension?

The link between diabetes and vision is strong: people with diabetes have a 25-fold increased risk of vision impairment. The survey found that people with diabetes face multiple barriers to vision care, including difficulty accessing specialists, time constraints, cost, and not perceiving a need for routine eye exams. As APAC faces rising rates of diabetes, integrating vision care into chronic disease pathways is an important step toward addressing these barriers and easing pressure on individuals and healthcare systems alike. Key actions could include:

• Incorporating routine eye screenings into diabetes and hypertension care protocols, including annual retinal exams as part of standard follow-up.
• Utilise digital health tools, such as AI-supported retinal imaging and teleophthalmology, to make screenings more accessible—particularly in primary care and community settings.
• Fostering cross-specialty collaboration by ensuring communication and coordination between primary care providers, endocrinologists, and ophthalmologists.
• Enhancing public and provider awareness through targeted education campaigns and provider training to reinforce the importance of vision health in chronic disease outcomes.

Technology was mentioned as a means to expand access to vision care. Can you share examples of digital tools or teleophthalmology initiatives that have shown success in improving screening rates or early detection in the region?

Digital health solutions are increasingly bridging access gaps in vision care across Asia Pacific, especially for high-risk groups and underserved areas. Tools such as AI-assisted retinal imaging and teleophthalmology platforms are enabling earlier detection of retinal diseases, even in primary care or community settings, by supporting screening where on-site specialists may not be available.

These innovations help reduce diagnostic delays, streamline referrals to specialist care, and improve the overall flow from screening to follow-up. For example, AI-powered diabetic retinopathy screening programs in India and Thailand have supported millions of diabetic retinopathy screenings in India and Thailand, making early detection possible at the point of care and at no cost to patients.

Such technologies are especially valuable for chronic conditions like diabetic eye disease, where early intervention can significantly impact outcomes. As digital tools become more embedded in care pathways, they offer a practical way to scale up screening and strengthen earlier patient engagement—contributing to more sustainable vision care models across the region.

Cost and time constraints were cited as major barriers to regular eye exams. Are there any policy recommendations or healthcare financing models that could help make vision care more accessible and affordable across Asia Pacific?

Time and cost are part of the multifaceted barriers individuals may face when accessing eye care. Addressing these barriers requires collaboration across public and private sectors, and a multi-pronged approach aligned with WHO recommendations: 

• Integrated primary care: Training community health workers and embedding eye screenings into routine primary care and diabetes management protocols can help reach more people and use health resources more efficiently, especially in underserved areas.
  
  
• Digital solutions: Expanding telemedicine and AI-based screening tools can save patients time and bring quality eye care closer to home.
• Strengthening the vision care workforce: Training community health workers to perform basic vision screening and refer patients appropriately can reduce bottlenecks and expand reach, especially where specialist access is limited.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encouraging collaboration between governments and private sector providers can increase access points for vision care and reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients.
• Investing in sustained vision care: Continued investment in vision prevention and care, including exploring innovative financing models, can help improve capacity and outcomes across different healthcare settings.
• Public awareness: Targeted education campaigns and incentives for preventive eye exams can help bridge the gap between concern for vision health and actual screening rates.

The case for investment in eye health is clear. Survey respondents ranked reduced quality of life, loss of independence, financial strain, and mental health impacts as top concerns tied to vision loss. Caregivers are deeply affected, with 95% reporting emotional, financial, or physical challenges. And globally, vision impairment drives an estimated US$411 billion in productivity losses each year.

In Asia Pacific, where populations are ageing and diabetes is on the rise, the stakes are even higher. At Roche, we see vision health not only as a medical priority, but as a critical investment in the region’s future, supporting healthier ageing, workforce participation, and quality of life across communities.

The survey shows low awareness of retinal diseases like AMD, DME, and RVO. How can public health campaigns be tailored to improve disease literacy, and what role should pharmaceutical companies, governments, and NGOs play in these efforts?

Raising awareness of retinal diseases is a critical first step toward reducing preventable vision loss across Asia Pacific. The APAC Vision Health Survey showed that while many people are concerned about their vision, gaps in understanding, particularly around the importance of regular eye exams, continue to delay early detection. For example, among people with diabetes, roughly 2 in 10 said they didn’t see a need for eye exams, and another 2 in 10 reported fear or anxiety as a barrier to seeking care.

This highlights a clear opportunity to improve public awareness and build confidence around managing eye health. Campaigns that are local, accessible, and action-oriented—and that connect to everyday concerns like independence or quality of life—could resonate more deeply with communities.

As a company deeply committed to advancing vision care, we believe the most effective awareness efforts will come from cross-sector collaboration. Industry, governments, NGOs, and healthcare providers each bring unique strengths—whether it’s education, innovation, infrastructure, or reach. By working together, we can help shift public understanding and ensure that more people take proactive steps to protect their sight.

Looking ahead, what collaborative models between healthcare providers, governments, and industry players could help establish more sustainable vision care frameworks across Asia Pacific?

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that bring together governments, healthcare providers, and industry are essential to building more resilient vision care systems. At Roche, we believe that sustainable frameworks should address the entire patient journey—from early detection to long-term management. This means not only expanding access through collaboration but also innovating to reduce the burden of care on patients and health systems.

For example, we are developing advanced delivery systems designed to maintain clinical benefits of therapies over a longer period. This improves quality of life while reducing the logistical and personal burden of care.

Additionally, Roche’s decade-long partnership with the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) shows how scientific collaboration can deliver regionally relevant therapies, while initiatives like Malaysia’s Women in Ophthalmology Forum strengthen clinical capacity and nurture the next generation of eye care leaders.

Emerging technologies, including AI-powered screening tools, and community-based outreach are also helping to expand access and enable earlier intervention, particularly in rural settings. By working together to build scalable, locally relevant solutions, healthcare providers, governments, and industry can strengthen vision care frameworks—bringing the region closer to achieving universal access to eye care.