Sex and rural-urban differences in the prevalence of childhood visual impairment in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of visual impairment (VI) and blindness (BL) due to cataract and cataract surgical outcomes in remote dispersed and high-altitude Tibetan areas of China.Design and settingA cross-sectional study was conducted among people aged 50 and above in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Kandze (TAPK), China, in 2017. The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness protocol was followed.ParticipantsOf 5000 eligible participants, 4764 were examined (response rate 95.3%).Primary and secondary outcome measuresCataract VI was defined as lens opacity at visual acuity (VA) levels of <3/60 (Blindness (BL)), ≥3/60 and <6/60 (severe visual impairment (SVI)), ≥6/60 and <6/18 (moderate visual impairment (MVI)), ≥6/18 and <6/12 (early visual impairment (EVI)).ResultsThe estimated prevalence of cataract BL was 0.61% (95% CI 0.42 to 0.87). With best corrected VA, the estimated prevalence of SVI from cataract was 0.86% (95% CI 0.63 to 1.17); MVI was 2.39% (95% CI 2.00 to 2.87) and EVI was 5.21% (95% CI 4.61 to 5.87). Women in TAPK had a significantly higher prevalence of cataract BL (0.82%, 95% CI 0.54 to 2.15) than men (0.34%, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.70). Women had lower cataract surgical coverage (CSC) by eyes (60.8%, 95% CI 55.5 to 65.8) compared with men (70.1%; 95% CI 63.7 to 75.7). The prevalence of cataract BL was higher among Tibetan (2.28%; 95% CI 1.98 to 2.62) than Han Chinese (1.01%%; 95% CI 0.54% to 1.87%). Overall CSC by person with BL (by better eye) was 82.0% (95% CI 75.2 to 87.6). Among cataract-operated participants, 71.2% had VA equal to or better than 6/18.ConclusionsThe study detected a low prevalence of VI and BL due to cataract with high CSC in the study area compared with many other places in China. Further actions should be taken to improve cataract surgical outcome.

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Population-based assessment of visual impairment and pattern of corneal disease: results from the CORE (Corneal Opacity Rural Epidemiological) study

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-314720 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 104 (7) ◽

pp. 994-998

Author(s):

Ritika Mukhija ◽

Noopur Gupta ◽

Praveen Vashist ◽

Radhika Tandon ◽

Sanjeev K Gupta

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Epidemiological Study ◽

Age Groups ◽

Corneal Opacity ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Corneal Disease ◽

Corneal Opacities

ObjectiveTo characterise types of corneal diseases and resulting visual impairment (VI) in a rural North Indian population.DesignCross-sectional, population-based study.MethodsThe Corneal Opacity Rural Epidemiological study included 12 899 participants from 25 random clusters of rural Gurgaon, Haryana, India to determine the prevalence of the corneal disease in the general population. Sociodemographic details, presence and type of corneal morbidity, laterality, VI (presenting visual acuity (PVA) <6/18 in the better eye) and characteristics of corneal opacities were noted.ResultsOverall, 12 113 participants of all ages underwent detailed ophthalmic examination and prevalence of corneal opacity was found to be 3.7% (n=452) with bilateral involvement in 140 participants (31%) during the house-to-house visits. Of the total 571 eyes of 435 patients presenting with corneal opacity at the central clinic, PVA was <3/60 in 166 (29.1%), 3/60 to <6/60 in 14 (2.5%), 6/60 to <6/18 in 164 (28.7%), 6/18 to ≤6/12 in 85 (14.9%) and 6/9 to 6/6 in 142 eyes (24.9%), respectively. Further, there were a total of 115 eyes (20.1%) with nebular corneal opacity, 263 (46.1%) with macular, 162 (28.4%) with leucomatous and 31 (5.4%) with an adherent leucoma. The odds of having VI due to corneal disease were greater for the illiterate (OR:4.26; 95% CI: 2.88 to 6.31; p<0.001) and elderly (OR:11.05; 95% CI: 7.76 to 15.74; p<0.001).ConclusionThe data from this study give an insight into the characteristics of various corneal pathologies and resulting VI in the general population. This is a pioneer study involving all age groups on the burden of VI due to corneal diseases.

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Visual impairment and spectacle coverage rate in Baoshan district, China: population-based study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-13-311 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Mengjun Zhu ◽

Xiaowei Tong ◽

Rong Zhao ◽

Xiangui He ◽

Huijuan Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Impairment ◽

Population Based ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Baoshan District

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Visual impairment, but not hearing impairment, is independently associated with lower subjective well-being among individuals over 95 years of age: A population-based study

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/j.archger.2015.10.011 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 62 ◽

pp. 30-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Zuyun Liu ◽

Di Wu ◽

Jiapin Huang ◽

Degui Qian ◽

Fei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Impairment ◽

Hearing Impairment ◽

Well Being ◽

Population Based ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Population Based Study

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A Prospective, Population-Based Study of the Role of Visual Impairment in Motor Vehicle Crashes among Older Drivers: The SEE Study

Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science ◽

10.1167/iovs.06-0474 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 1483 ◽

Cited By ~ 115

Author(s):

Gary S. Rubin ◽

Edmond S. W. Ng ◽

Karen Bandeen-Roche ◽

Penelope M. Keyl ◽

Ellen E. Freeman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Impairment ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Population Based ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽

Vehicle Crashes ◽

Population Based Study

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Refractive error and visual impairment in Ireland schoolchildren

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312573 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 103 (8) ◽

pp. 1112-1118 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Siofra Christine Harrington ◽

Jim Stack ◽

Kathryn Saunders ◽

Veronica O’Dwyer

Keyword(s):

Visual Impairment ◽

Refractive Error ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Age Groups ◽

Population Based ◽

School Type ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Spherical Equivalent Refraction ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Two Age Groups

AimTo report refractive error prevalence and visual impairment in Republic of Ireland (henceforth 'Ireland') schoolchildren.MethodsThe Ireland Eye Study examined 1626 participants (881 boys, 745 girls) in two age groups, 6–7 years (728) and 12–13 years (898), in Ireland between June 2016 and January 2018. Participating schools were selected by stratified random sampling, representing a mix of school type (primary/postprimary), location (urban/rural) and socioeconomic status (disadvantaged/advantaged). Examination included monocular logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) presenting visual acuity (with spectacles if worn) and cycloplegic autorefraction (1% Cyclopentolate Hydrochloride). Parents completed a questionnaire to ascertain participants’ lifestyle.ResultsThe prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent refraction (SER): ≤−0.50 D), hyperopia (SER: ≥+2.00 D) and astigmatism (≤−1.00 DC) among participants aged 6–7 years old was 3.3%, 25% and 19.2%, respectively, and among participants aged 12–13 years old was 19.9%, 8.9% and 15.9%, respectively. Astigmatic axes were predominately with-the-rule. The prevalence of ‘better eye’ presenting visual impairment (≥0.3 logMAR, with spectacles, if worn) was 3.7% among younger and 3.4% among older participants. Participants in minority groups (Traveller and non-white) were significantly more likely to present with presenting visual impairment in the ‘better eye’.ConclusionsThe Ireland Eye Study is the first population-based study to report on refractive error prevalence and visual impairment in Ireland. Myopia prevalence is similar to comparable studies of white European children, but the levels of presenting visual impairment are markedly higher than those reported for children living in Northern Ireland, suggesting barriers exist in accessing eye care.

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A Population-based Study of Visual Impairment Among Pre-school Children in Beijing: The Beijing Study of Visual Impairment in Children

American Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1016/j.ajo.2008.11.021 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 147 (6) ◽

pp. 1075-1081 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Qing Lu ◽

Yuanyuan Zheng ◽

Baochen Sun ◽

Tongtong Cui ◽

Nathan Congdon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Impairment ◽

School Children ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study

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Prevalence and pattern of refractive errors among Saudi adults

Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.12669/pjms.35.2.648 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Mujeeb Ur Rehman Parrey ◽

Ekramy Elmorsy

Keyword(s):

Visual Impairment ◽

Population Based ◽

Border Region ◽

Refractive Errors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Creative Commons ◽

Care Services ◽

Northern Border ◽

Awareness Programs

Background & Objectives: Refractive Errors (RE) are responsible for major portion of the treatable visual impairment and avoidable blindness in the world. The prevalence of RE varies with age, gender, ethnicity, geographical locations and also from time to time due to progresse in eye care services. We aimed to study the prevalence of RE and assess their patterns among Saudi adults of Arar city, the capital of Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study. A total number of 966 Saudi adults aged 16 to 39 years were enrolled. The patterns of their RE were studied through auto-refraction evaluation. Results: The prevalence of RE was 45.8%. The most frequent type of RE was myopia in 24.4%, followed by hyperopia 11.9% and astigmatism in 9.5% cases. Ages and genders significantly affect the prevalence of the different patterns of RE (0.033 and 0.012, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of RE in Arar city is slightly lower than that previously published in the same targeted age group. Myopia is the main RE. More awareness programs, especially among young adults are recommended for better outcomes. Abbreviations: RE: Refractive Error, SE: Spherical Equivalent, VA: Visual Acuity, VI: Visual Impairment. How to cite this:Parrey MUR, Elmorsy E. Prevalence and pattern of refractive errors among Saudi adults. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(2):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.2.648 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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