Introduction Over half a billion to 1.3 billion individuals suffer from visual impairment (VI) or blindness worldwide, and this number is projected to more than double or even triple in the next few decades (1, 2). The impacts of VI are far-reaching, including negative effects on quality of life, heightened risks of falls, and loss of independence (3–5). And VI is associated with increased risks of cognitive impairment, dementia, depression, and mortality (6–14).
