An official study by Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare revealed that approximately 24% of Paraguayans over 50 suffer from some form of visual impairment. The research, called the Third Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB), identified vision problems as the primary physical condition in this age group, surpassing even hearing difficulties.
Within this group, 2.1% suffer from blindness, equating to approximately 27,362 people. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in the country, followed by glaucoma and damage resulting from diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, 1% of the population over 50 has severe visual impairment, affecting approximately 17,255 individuals, while 11.5% have moderate visual impairment, totaling about 145,802 people.
Another 9.5% of cases are classified as mild visual impairment, primarily stemming from uncorrected refractive errors—often due to a lack of prescribed glasses. In total, approximately 236,000 Paraguayans over 50 have their quality of life impacted by eye problems.
The study also warns about patients with diabetes, who present more severe conditions and faster visual deterioration compared to non-diabetics.
Conducted using the RAAB7 methodology in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), and the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the survey examined a sample of 7,385 adults across Paraguayan territory between June 2024 and October 2025. The data accuracy is 95%.
Paraguay became the first country in Latin America to conduct this type of national survey for the third time. The results will serve as the basis for updating the National Eye Health Plan, focusing on expanding budgets, decentralizing care, and facilitating access to free cataract surgeries and preventive treatments in public hospitals in the country's interior.