1. PREVALENCE AND CAUSES OF
BILATERAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
IN RURAL AREAS OF TIANJIN,
CHINA – THE TIANJIN EYE STUDY
PRESENTED BY: MUHAMMAD RASHID
2. Purpose:
To estimate the prevalence, causes and risk factors of bilateral
visual impairment in rural areas of Tianjin, China.
3. • Methods:
A large population-based, cross-sectional study. A stratified
random cluster sampling method was used to investigate 12,
233 participants in all age groups living in rural Tianjin.
Participants completed questionnaires and received professional
ophthalmology examinations.
4. • Results
: According to World Health Organization best-corrected visual
acuity (BCVA) criteria, the crude prevalence of bilateral visual
impairment (BCVA < 20/63), bilateral low vision (BCVA < 20/63
to ≥20/400) and bilateral blindness (BCVA < 20/400) was 2.53%,
2.40% and 0.14% (age- and gender-standardized prevalence was
1.86%, 1.76% and 0.11%).
5. • The prevalence increased with age and was higher in women
than men. The most common causes of bilateral visual
impairment in the total population were cataract (48.39%),
refractive error/amblyopia (17.74%), age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) (10.00%), diabetic retinopathy (5.81%) and
glaucoma (3.87%).
6. • For participants younger than 50 years, refractive
error/amblyopia was the leading cause of low vision and
blindness, while cataract was the major cause in the
participants over 50. Female gender, older age and self-
reported diabetes were associated with increased risks of visual
impairment.
7. • Conclusion:
The age- and gender-standardized prevalence of low vision,
especially in the older group (50+), was higher in this study compared with
previous studies in China.
Refractive error/amblyopia was the leading cause of bilateral visual
impairment in younger group.
While cataract was the primary cause in the older group.
These findings will provide useful information for planning comprehensive eye
healthcare programmes in China.
