National epidemiological survey of blindness and low vision in China.

According to the National Sample Survey of Blindness and Low Vision, the prevalence of blindness in China was 0.43%, resulting chiefly from cataract (41.06%), corneal diseases (15.38%), trachoma (10.87%), and glaucoma (8.80%); and the prevalence of low vision in China was 0.58%, of which the main causes were cataract (49.83%), ametropia/amblyopia (14.98%), trachoma (9.55%), corneal diseases (8.48%), chorioretinal diseases (6.27%), etc. Among children under 14 years of age, the leading cause of blindness and low vision was heredity (48.46%). Among elderly of 60 years and over, the leading cause of blindness and low vision was cataract (73.13%).