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Abstract #21620 Published in IGR 10-3
Sampling survey of prevalence and cause of visual impairment in Shaanxi Province
Chu M-F; Ai H; Peng J; Wang Y; Yang X-GInternational Journal of Ophthalmology 2008; 8: 1412-1415
AIM: To investigate the prevalence rate, age distribution and the leading causes of visual impairment in Shaanxi province, in order to provide some assistance and instructions to the prevention and treatment of blindness. METHODS: By cluster random sampling, 176 clusters were selected and 73,425 persons received the eye examination in the 22 counties in Shaanxi province from July 1 to May 31, 2006. Visual acuity and eye examination were performed by ophthalmologist using slitlamp and funduscope to evaluate the degree and judge the leading causes of visual impairment, then record to the uniform charts. RESULTS: The total prevalence rate of visual impairment in Shaanxi province was estimated to be 1.12%, in which the prevalence rate of binocular blindness and binocular low vision were 0.42% and 0.69% respectively and those in women was higher than that in men (0.29% vs 0.14%, 0.41% vs 0.28%, P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in the prevalence rate of visual impairment as the age grew older (P < 0.01). The prevalence rate of visual impairment in countryside is significantly higher than that in city (P < 0.05). The chief causes of blindness were cataract (48.72%), refractive error/amblyopia (17.70%), retia and uvea disease (11.60% cornea disease (10.87%) and glaucoma (9,52%). CONCLUSION: The results show that cataract and refractive error/ amblyopia are the leading causes of blindness in Shaanxi province. We have a lot of work to do to the prevention and treatment of blindness. LA: Chinese
Dr. M.-F. Chu, Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth Hospital of Xi'an City, Xi'an 710004 Shaanxi Province, China. cmf0198@sina.com
Classification:
1.5 Glaucomas as cause of blindness (Part of: 1 General aspects)
1.1 Epidemiology (Part of: 1 General aspects)
