# The economic burden of diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness in Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study calculates the massive economic cost of diabetes-related vision loss in Saudi Arabia and highlights the need for better prevention and treatment strategies.

## Contribution

The paper presents a detailed economic model quantifying the societal cost of diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness in Saudi Arabia.

## Key findings

- The total annual economic burden of diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness in Saudi Arabia is estimated at SAR 150 billion.
- Direct medical costs account for SAR 101 billion, with medication and productivity loss being major contributors.
- Indirect costs, such as productivity losses, amount to SAR 49 billion annually.

## Abstract

Our main objective is to measure the economic impact of managing diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to inform policy and resource allocation for effective disease management and prevention.

We develop a prevalence-based cost of illness model using Microsoft Excel to assess the economic impact of treating diabetic-related visual impairment and blindness over a one-year period from societal perspective. The model categorizes costs according to the severity level of the condition: mild, moderate, and severe visual impairment and blindness. It encompasses direct medical expenses such as those for drug acquisitions, surgical procedures, healthcare resources, monitoring, visual aids, and psychological care, as well as indirect costs such as productivity losses in the financial year 2024. The model’s outputs provide a cumulative and detailed breakdown of the costs associated with visual impairment and blindness in KSA. Sensitivity analysis was conducted.

Our economic model shows that the total economic burden of diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness in KSA in one year is SAR 150,324,912,186 ($ 81.2 billion). This cost is divided into direct and indirect medical costs estimated at SAR 101 billion ($ 54.6 billion) and SAR 49 billion ($26.5 billion), respectively. The major component is medication costs, along with patients’ productivity loss.

The significant economic repercussions of diabetes-related visual impairment and blindness across individuals, households, and the Saudi healthcare system impose a substantial financial burden. These findings highlight the urgent need for investment in innovative interventions and screening programs aimed at mitigating these costs, enhancing accessibility to essential treatments, improving the quality of life of affected individuals and families, and achieving sustainable healthcare and socioeconomic development goals in the Kingdom.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13561-026-00721-3.