According to the report “Thailand Country Aging Report: A Contract Across Generations” jointly published by the World Bank Group and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Thailand is projected to enter a “super-aged society” by 2033, when the proportion of the population aged 65 and older will exceed 20%. This transition represents an extraordinarily rapid demographic shift taking place over just 18 years, as it transitions from an aging society to an aged society.
In addition to demographic challenges, the report highlights public health data from intrinsic capacity screenings of 7.7 million older adults conducted by the Ministry of Public Health, revealing that “vision and eye problems” rank as the number-one impairment among older Thais at 27%, followed by oral health issues at 25% and fall risks at 17%.
This deterioration in vision diminishes quality of life and directly affects the national economy. A health economics study by the WifOR Institute reveals that chronic retinal diseases – specifically Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) among the working-age population and wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) among the elderly will inflict economic and social losses on Thailand totaling THB 68 billion ($1.90 billion) between 2017 and 2027, representing a cumulative loss of 235,539 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
The study highlights that beyond paid work productivity losses, up to 44% of this burden stems from unpaid caregiver burden, occurring when working-age family members must reduce their working hours or leave the workforce to care for patients. Nevertheless, evidence from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and WifOR confirms that every THB 35.7 ($1) invested in eye health generates an economic return of approximately THB 1,000 ($28).
Dr. Thanapong Somkijrungroj, Head of the Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Unit and Faculty Member of the Department of Ophthalmology at Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, noted regarding medical advancements “In the past, many older adults and retinal disease patients suffered irreversible vision loss due to a lack of screening technologies and limited treatment options. Today, Thai ophthalmology has made remarkable strides. We have AI-assisted retinal imaging and high-resolution OCT scanners that enable the early detection of nAMD before permanent visual damage occurs. Furthermore, we now have a wide range of treatment options, making open consultations between physicians and patients essential to selecting approaches tailored to each patient’s lifestyle. Importantly, even after symptoms improve, patients must adhere consistently to treatment appointments to preserve their vision. Looking ahead, sustained-release innovations will sustainably help reduce the hospital visit burden for both patients and their families.”
Sharing his perspective as a patient receiving treatment, Mr. Kulvech Janvatanavit, CEO of the Thai Institute of Directors (Thai IOD) and an nAMD patient, stated “As a corporate executive, using my eyesight to analyze data and lead an organization is core to my daily responsibilities. When I began experiencing blurred vision caused by nAMD, it significantly affected my confidence. However, undergoing screening and receiving early detection and treatment allowed me to continue leading teams, serving society, enjoying time with my family, and sustaining my work productivity. I hope new treatment innovations that extend dosing intervals will enable patients to lead even smoother, more independent lives.”
Dr. Matthew Coates, General Manager of Roche Limited, emphasized the necessity of a policy shift: “The WifOR report clearly reflects that chronic retinal diseases cause up to THB 68 billion ($1.90 billion) in economic losses for Thailand across both working-age and elderly populations. The time has arrived for all sectors to collaborate and shift their perspective from viewing healthcare as an ‘expense’ to an ‘investment in human capital’ (Health-to-Wealth). Data confirms that every THB 35.7 ($1) invested in eye health generates an economic return of around THB 1,000 ($28).Roche Thailand is committed to joining hands with public and private partners to expand AI screening infrastructure to provincial areas and introduce sustained-release therapeutic innovations to elevate patient quality of life and support the Thai economy.”
During the closing session of the panel discussion, all three speakers summarized their perspectives and policy recommendations to address the eye health crisis in an aging society, noting that the THB 68 billion economic loss can be mitigated by driving proactive solutions across four key areas:
The first priority is accelerating the expansion of HealthTech infrastructure and AI-assisted retinal screening across regional center hospitals and primary care units nationwide to interrupt vision loss through early detection, particularly among high-risk groups such as diabetic and elderly populations. This effort must be paired with promoting access to innovative sustained-release therapies that reduce hospital visit frequency, protecting patients’ quality of life while enabling working-age family members (caregivers) to remain fully engaged in the economy.
Additionally, the panel underscored the necessity of shifting policy mindsets toward “Health-to-Wealth,” recognizing that eye care budgets represent an investment in human capital that yields up to 28-fold economic returns to society. Achieving success across all measures will require systematically raising health literacy to foster awareness of annual eye screenings and encourage patients to adhere strictly to treatment plans, preserving vision, sustaining independence for older adults, and advancing the healthcare system toward sustainable aging.
References:
- [1] Demographic Context: Thailand Country Aging Report: A Contract Across Generations: Thailand’s Path to an Age-Ready Society (2026), World Bank Group & Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
- [2] Health and Screening Data: Intrinsic Capacity Screening Database (Dashboard), Fiscal Year 2024, Ministry of Public Health, cited in Thailand Country Aging Report, p. 53.
- [3] Economic Impact and Return on Investment: Health economics research on the impact of retinal conditions in Thailand by WifOR Institute, and the eye health investment case by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in collaboration with WifOR Institute.
