Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the temporal trends in the prevalence and causes of vision impairment (VI) in two large districts of Telangana state in South India.
Methods :
During year 2011-12 and 2017, two large population-based cross-sectional studies were conducted in two districts of Telangana State (Khammam and Warangal) using identical study methods and in same geographical locations. All those aged ≥40 years were included in the study. Trained eye care teams and community eye health workers visited the households and conducted eye examinations. Blindness and Moderate Vision Impairment (MVI) was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/60 and worse than 6/18 to 6/60 in the better eye respectively. VI included blindness and MVI. Age and gender adjusted prevalence estimates are presented.
Results :
In Khammam district, 2485 participants were examined in 2011-12 and 2711 participants were examined in 2017. Similarly, in Warangal district, 2338 participants were examined in 2011-12 and 2646 participants were examined in 2017. The response rate was close to 90% in both the studies as well as the districts. In Khammam district, overall VI declined by 2.5% from 15.5% to 13.0% (p<0.001). While there was no significant change in MVI (p=0.566), blindness declined by 3.0% from 5.4% to 2.4% (p<0.001). In Warangal district, overall VI remained unchanged (p=0.60). While the MVI increased by 3% from 9.3% to 12.3% (p=0.001), blindness declined by 3.5% from 6.4% to 2.9% (p<0.001). In Khammam, MVI due to cataract increased by 2.4% from 1.8% to 4.2% (p<0.001) but MVI due to refractive errors declined by 2.6% from 8.1% to 5.5% (p<0.001). In Warangal district, MVI due to cataract increased from 2.8% to 5.0% (p<0.001) whereas there was no significant change in MVI due to refractive errors and other causes. In both locations, blindness due to cataract and refractive errors have shown a significant decline.
Conclusions :
A differential trend in prevalence and causes of VI were found in Khammam and Warangal districts. Overall, there is decline VI in Khammam district whereas it remained stable in Warangal district. The blindness due to cataract and refractive errors declined in both the regions. The data from this research can be used or planning eye care services in the region.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.