Moderate visual impairment in India: The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study

83Citations
Citations of this article
76Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the prevalence and demographic associations of moderate visual impairment in the population of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Methods: From 94 clusters in one urban and three rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, 11 786 people of all ages were sampled using a stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling strategy. The eligible people were invited for interview and detailed dilated eye examination by trained professionals. Moderate visual impairment was defined as presenting distance visual acuity less than 6/18 to 6/60 or equivalent visual field loss in the better eye. Results: Of those sampled, 10 293 (87.3%) people participated in the study. In addition to the previously reported 1.84% prevalence of blindness (presenting distance visual acuity less than 6/60 or central visual field less than 20° in the better eye) in this sample, 1237 people had moderate visual impairment, an adjusted prevalence of 8.09% (95% Cl 6.89 to 9.30%). The majority of this moderate visual impairment was caused by refractive error (45.8%) and cataract (39.9%). Increasing age, female sex, decreasing socioeconomic status, and rural area of residence had significantly higher odds of being associated with moderate visual impairment. Conclusions: These data suggest that there is a significant burden of moderate visual impairment in this population in addition to blindness. Extrapolation of these data to the population of India suggests that there were 82 million people with moderate visual impairment in the year 2000, and this number is likely to be 139 million by the year 2020 if the current trend continues. This impending large burden of moderate visual impairment, the majority of which is due to the relatively easily treatable refractive error and cataract, would have to be taken into account while estimating the eye care needs in India, in addition to dealing with blindness. Specific strategies targeting the elderly population, people with low socioeconomic status, those living in the rural areas, and females would have to be implemented in the long term to reduce moderate visual impairment.

References Powered by Scopus

Visual acuity and the causes of visual loss in Australia: The Blue Mountains Eye Study

738Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The cause-specific prevalence of visual impairment in an urban population: The Baltimore eye survey

306Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Angle-closure glaucoma in an urban population in Southern India: The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study

300Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Revision of visual impairment definitions in the International Statistical Classification of Disease

195Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Visual impairment and mental health: Unmet needs and treatment options

139Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

What is the global burden of visual impairment?

127Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Dandona, R., Dandona, L., Srinivas, M., Giridhar, P., Prasad, M. N., Vilas, K., … Rao, G. N. (2002). Moderate visual impairment in India: The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 86(4), 373–377. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.86.4.373

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 21

55%

Researcher 9

24%

Professor / Associate Prof. 6

16%

Lecturer / Post doc 2

5%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Medicine and Dentistry 23

62%

Social Sciences 10

27%

Computer Science 2

5%

Nursing and Health Professions 2

5%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free