ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the prevalence of cataracts, the surgical coverage, and postoperative visual acuity of adults in Ningxia.Methods:A cross-sectional study using multistage cluster random sampling was conducted.Ten survey sites in Ningxia were selected and the population aged 18 years and over was surveyed with questionnaire, height and weight measurements, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus photography and slit-lamp examinations.Cataract prevalence and its influencing factors were analyzed.Cataract prevalence, surgical coverage and presenting visual acuity (PVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after surgery were investigated in different age groups of the examined population.The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (No.[2023]-LL-010).Participants signed informed consent prior to the examination.Results:A total of 6 145 people should be examined, and 5 721 people were actually examined, with an examination rate of 93.10%.The study population consisted of 2 558 males, accounting for 44.71%, and 3 163 females, accounting for 55.28%, with ages ranging from 18 to 93 years old and an average age of (64.27±13.48) years.Among them, 1 180 patients diagnosed with cataract, with a cataract prevalence of 20.62%.The prevalence of cataract increased with age and decreased with education level, showing statistically significant differences ( χ2=1 091.32, 581.92; both at P<0.01).The prevalence of cataract was significantly higher among people with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease than those without these diseases ( χ2=274.65, 118.15, 78.05, 182.71; all at P<0.01).Cataract surgery was performed in 245 cases in the cataract patient population, with a surgical coverage rate of 20.76%.Of the 245 cases, 229 cases were implanted with IOLs, with an implantation rate of 93.40%.The social burden rate of cataract blindness was 2.29%, and increased with age.Of the 339 eyes that underwent cataract surgery, 241 had a PVA≥0.3, accounting for 71.09%, and 272 had a BCVA≥0.3, accounting for 80.24%. Conclusions:In Ningxia, cataracts are still the main cause of vision impairment and blindness in the elderly, and the social burden rate of cataract blindness is high.Moreover, the coverage rate of cataract surgery is low, so both the coverage and quality of surgery need improvement.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment (VI) and blindness and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Siwan district, Bihar. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was done from January to March 2016 using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness 6 (RAAB 6, incorporating DR module) methodology. All individuals aged ?50 years were examined in 57 randomly selected clusters within the district. Results: A total of 3476 individuals were enumerated and 3189 (92%) completed examination. The overall prevalence of blindness and severe VI was 2.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–2.8) and 3.4% (95% CI: 2.6–4.3), respectively. Untreated cataract was the leading cause of blindness (73%) and severe VI (93%). The cataract surgical coverage (CSC) at <3/60 was 71.5% for eyes and 89.3% for persons in this sample and the CSC was similar between the genders. Refractive error (71%) was the primary cause of early VI. The overall prevalence of known and newly diagnosed diabetes was 6.3% (95% CI, 5.4–7.2%). Prevalence of any DR, maculopathy, and sight-threatening DR was 15, 12.4, and 6%, respectively. Conclusion: To conclude, as compared to previous reports, the prevalence of blindness and DR in Siwan district of Bihar was found to be lower and the CSC was higher. However, the problem of avoidable blindness remains a major problem in this region.
ABSTRACT
Objective To estimate the prevalence of cataract and its surgical coverage rate together with the burden related to bilateral cataract-blindness,among adults aged 40 or above in Gongshan county of Yunnan province and to evaluate the current cataract status and the efficacy of local cataract prevention program.Methods Cluster sampling was used.The protocol consisted of personal interview,pilot study,visual acuity checking,measuring the intraocular pressure; slit lamp microscopy and the fundus of the eye examination etc.Cataract was graded clinically using the Lens Opacity Classification System (LOCS) ]Ⅲ.Bilateral cataract-blindness burden,bilateral cataractblindness burden and cataract surgical coverage rate were calculated respectively,using two different criteria.Odds ratios (OR) were compared among different groups regarding age,gender,education,ethnic group and altitude of living area.Results Among the 1236 eligible residents,1116 (90.3％)were enrolled in the present study.The prevalence of cataract was 23.8％ among adults aged 40 or order.When the bilateral best refractive vision ＜3/60 was defined as the blindness criterion,the bilateral cataract-blindness burden showed as 1.3％,and cataract blindness surgical coverage rate was 50.0％.When the bilateral presenting vision ＜ 6/60 was defined as the blindness criterion,the bilateral cataract-blindness burden was 25.0％,and cataract blindness surgical coverage rate was 12.9％.The cataract surgical coverage rates were much lower and the bilateral cataract-blindness burden much higher in women,illiterates,living in high altitude areas and those who were aged 70 or above.Conclusion Cataract blindness was a serious public health problem in aged individuals and illiteracy in the residents of the studied areas.Poor prevention programs on cataract called for urgent action to be taken.