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).

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.

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