Prevalence and causes of vision loss in Central and South Asia: 1990-2010

Jost Jonas, Ronnie George, Rashima Asokan, Seth Flaxman, Jill Keeffe, Janet Leasher, Kovin Naidoo, Konrad Pesudovs, Holly Price, Lingam Vijaya, Richard White, Tien Wong, Serge Resnikoff, Hugh Taylor, Rupert Bourne

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    58 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: To examine the prevalence, patterns and trends of vision impairment and its causes from 1990 to 2010 in Central and South Asia. Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2010 and ongoing literature searches, we examined prevalence and causes of moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; presenting visual acuity <6/18, =3/60) and blindness ( presenting visual acuity <3/60). Results: In Central Asia, the estimated age-standardised prevalence of blindness decreased from 0.4% (95% CI 0.3% to 0.6%) to 0.2% (95% CI 0.2% to 0.3%) and of MSVI from 3.0% (95% CI 1.9% to 4.7%) to 1.9% (95% CI 1.2% to 3.2%), and in South Asia blindness decreased from 1.7% (95% CI 1.4% to 2.1%) to 1.1% (95% CI 0.9% to 1.3%) and MSVI from 8.9% (95% CI 6.9% to 10.9%) to 6.4% (95% CI 5.2% to 8.2%). In 2010, 135 000 (95% CI 99 000 to 194 000) people were blind in Central Asia and 10 600 000 (95% CI 8 397 000 to 12 500 000) people in South Asia. MSVI was present in 1 178 000 (95% CI 772 000 to 2 243 000) people in the Central Asia, and in 71 600 000 (95% CI 57 600 000 to 92 600 000) people in South Asia. Women were generally more often affected than men. The leading causes of blindness (cataract) and MSVI (undercorrected refractive error) did not change from 1990 to 2010. Conclusions The prevalence of blindness and MSVI in South Asia is still three times higher than in Central Asia and globally, with women generally more often affected than women. In both regions, cataract and undercorrected refractive error were major causes of blindness and MSVI.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)592-598
    Number of pages7
    JournalBritish Journal of Ophthalmology
    Volume98
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2014

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