Prevalence and causes of vision loss in South-east Asia and Oceania in 2015: magnitude, temporal trends, and projections
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background:
To assess prevalence and causes of vision impairment in South-east Asia and Oceania regions from 1990 to 2015 and to forecast the figures for 2020.
Methods:
Based on a systematic review of medical literature, prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity (PVA)<3/60 in the better eye), moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; PVA<6/18 but ≥3/60), mild vision impairment (PVA<6/12 but ≥6/18)
and near vision impairment (>N5 or N8 in the presence of normal vision) were estimated for 1990, 2010, 2015, and 2020.
Results:
The age-standardized prevalence of blindness for all ages and both genders was higher in the Oceania region but lower for MSVI when comparing the sub-regions. The prevalence of near vision impairment in people ≥50 years was 41% (UI 18.8-65.9). Comparison of the data for 2015 with 2020 predicts a small increase in the numbers of people affected by blindness, MSVI and mild VI in both sub-regions. The numbers predicted for near VI in South-east Asia are from 90.68 million in 2015 to 102.88 million in 2020. The main causes of blindness and MSVI in both sub-regions in 2015 were cataract, uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, corneal disease and age-related macular degeneration. There was no trachoma in Oceania from 1990 and decreasing prevalence in South-east Asia with elimination predicted by 2020.
Conclusions:
Inboth regions the main challenges for eye care come from cataract which remains the main cause of blindness with uncorrected refractive error the main cause of MSVI. The trend between 1990 and 2015 is for a lower revalence of blindness and MSVI in both regions.
To assess prevalence and causes of vision impairment in South-east Asia and Oceania regions from 1990 to 2015 and to forecast the figures for 2020.
Methods:
Based on a systematic review of medical literature, prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity (PVA)<3/60 in the better eye), moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; PVA<6/18 but ≥3/60), mild vision impairment (PVA<6/12 but ≥6/18)
and near vision impairment (>N5 or N8 in the presence of normal vision) were estimated for 1990, 2010, 2015, and 2020.
Results:
The age-standardized prevalence of blindness for all ages and both genders was higher in the Oceania region but lower for MSVI when comparing the sub-regions. The prevalence of near vision impairment in people ≥50 years was 41% (UI 18.8-65.9). Comparison of the data for 2015 with 2020 predicts a small increase in the numbers of people affected by blindness, MSVI and mild VI in both sub-regions. The numbers predicted for near VI in South-east Asia are from 90.68 million in 2015 to 102.88 million in 2020. The main causes of blindness and MSVI in both sub-regions in 2015 were cataract, uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, corneal disease and age-related macular degeneration. There was no trachoma in Oceania from 1990 and decreasing prevalence in South-east Asia with elimination predicted by 2020.
Conclusions:
Inboth regions the main challenges for eye care come from cataract which remains the main cause of blindness with uncorrected refractive error the main cause of MSVI. The trend between 1990 and 2015 is for a lower revalence of blindness and MSVI in both regions.
Date Issued
2019-06-21
Date Acceptance
2018-06-17
Citation
British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2019, 103 (7), pp.878-884
ISSN
0007-1161
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Start Page
878
End Page
884
Journal / Book Title
British Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume
103
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. This article has been accepted for publication in British Journal of Ophthalmology following peer review. The definitive copyedited, typeset version
Keeffe JE, Casson RJ, Pesudovs K on behalf of the Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study, et al Prevalence and causes of vision loss in South-east Asia and Oceania in 2015: magnitude, temporal trends and projections British Journal of Ophthalmology 2019;103:878-884 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-311946
Keeffe JE, Casson RJ, Pesudovs K on behalf of the Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study, et al Prevalence and causes of vision loss in South-east Asia and Oceania in 2015: magnitude, temporal trends and projections British Journal of Ophthalmology 2019;103:878-884 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-311946
Identifier
https://bjo.bmj.com/content/103/7/878
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Ophthalmology
global burden of disease study
vision loss expert group
blindness
vision impairment
epidemiology
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
REFRACTIVE ERROR
GLOBAL PREVALENCE
BLINDNESS
WORLDWIDE
POPULATION
PRESBYOPIA
DISTANCE
ADULTS
blindness
epidemiology
global burden of disease study
vision impairment
vision loss expert group
Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study
Ophthalmology & Optometry
1103 Clinical Sciences
1113 Opthalmology and Optometry
1117 Public Health and Health Services
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-09-12