The prevalence and causes of visual impairment in central Sri Lanka the Kandy Eye study

Ophthalmology. 2009 Jan;116(1):52-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.08.034. Epub 2008 Nov 17.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and causes of uncorrectable visual impairment in the Kandy District of central Sri Lanka.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study.

Participants: Inhabitants >or=40 years of age from villages in the Kandy District were selected by randomized cluster sampling; 1721 eligible participants were identified and 1375 participated in the study.

Methods: The ophthalmic examination included best-corrected logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (VA), slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment, and dilated stereoscopic fundus examination. The principal cause of visual impairment after best correction was recorded.

Main outcome measures: Visual impairment (better eye <6/18) and blindness (better eye <3/60) after best correction.

Results: Comprehensive examinations, including VA, were performed on 1375 subjects (79.9% participation rate). The prevalence of blindness was 1.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.002-0.020; 15 participants). The prevalence of visual impairment was 5.9% (95% CI, 0.043-0.075; 81 subjects). Cataract and age-related macular degeneration were the main causes of visual impairment.

Conclusions: Visual impairment remains a major public health problem in central Sri Lanka. Specific programs directed at reducing the cataract burden need to be implemented.

Financial disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blindness / epidemiology*
  • Blindness / etiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Eye Diseases / complications
  • Female
  • Health Services Research
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data
  • Sri Lanka / epidemiology
  • Vision, Low / epidemiology*
  • Vision, Low / etiology*
  • Visual Acuity
  • Visually Impaired Persons / statistics & numerical data*