The Business of Eye Innovation Podcast: Episode 20
The Things We Do Not Talk About in Ophthalmology
How our aging population is impacting eyecare
On this episode of the BOEI Podcast, Prof Burkhard Dick talks with Kris Morrill about the impact on eyecare from our living longer, as more patients present with neurological diseases including dementia, which is often not diagnosed.
Speakers:
Kristine Morrill, Founder and President of Medevise Consulting
Burkhard Dick, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Rühr University, Bochum, Germany
Key Takeaways:
In 2023, more than 20% of Europe’s population was over 65. By 2050, approximately 40% of the population will be 55 or older.
Women outnumber men at older ages within the EU-27 population: in 2019, there were more than twice as many very old women (aged 85 years or more) as very old men.
According to an EU report on ageing in Europe: One of the principal areas of concern for policymakers is the cost of providing adequate health and long-term care, as very old people tend to consume proportionally more social services (their needs are usually greater than those of other age groups).
Prof Burkhard Dick reports that ophthlmologists are already seeing this effect in their practice with increasing numbers of patients with dementia and Alzheimers, as well as other diseases that often go undiagnosed
Learn more about our guests Burkhard Dick