Maritza López1, Ileana Brea1, Rita Yee2, Rodolfo Yi3, Víctor Carles4, Alberto Broce3, Hans Limburg5, Juan Carlos Silva6. 1. Comité Nacional VISION 2020, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, maritzalopez15@gmail.com. 2. Hospital Santo Tomás, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá 3. Caja de Seguro Social, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá 4. Ministerio de Salud, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá 5. Health Information Services, Grootebroek. 6. Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Determine prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in adults aged ≥ 50 years in Panama, identify their main causes, and characterize eye health services. METHODS: Cross-sectional population study using standard Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology. Fifty people aged ≥ 50 years were selected from each of 84 clusters chosen through representative random sampling of the entire country. Visual acuity was assessed using a Snellen chart; lens and posterior pole status were assessed by direct ophthalmoscopy. Cataract surgery coverage was calculated and its quality assessed, along with causes of visual acuity < 20/60 and barriers to access to surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 4 125 people were examined (98.2% of the calculated sample). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness was 3.0% (95% CI: 2.3-3.6). The main cause of blindness was cataract (66.4%), followed by glaucoma (10.2%). Cataract (69.2%) was the main cause of severe visual impairment and uncorrected refractive errors were the main cause of moderate visual impairment (60.7%). Surgical cataract coverage in individuals was 76.3%. Of all eyes operated for cataract, 58.0% achieved visual acuity ≤ 20/60 with available correction. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of blindness in Panama is in line with average prevalence found in other countries of the Region. This problem can be reduced, since 76.2% of cases of blindness and 85.0% of cases of severe visual impairment result from avoidable causes.
OBJECTIVE: Determine prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in adults aged ≥ 50 years in Panama, identify their main causes, and characterize eye health services. METHODS: Cross-sectional population study using standard Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology. Fifty people aged ≥ 50 years were selected from each of 84 clusters chosen through representative random sampling of the entire country. Visual acuity was assessed using a Snellen chart; lens and posterior pole status were assessed by direct ophthalmoscopy. Cataract surgery coverage was calculated and its quality assessed, along with causes of visual acuity < 20/60 and barriers to access to surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 4 125 people were examined (98.2% of the calculated sample). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness was 3.0% (95% CI: 2.3-3.6). The main cause of blindness was cataract (66.4%), followed by glaucoma (10.2%). Cataract (69.2%) was the main cause of severe visual impairment and uncorrected refractive errors were the main cause of moderate visual impairment (60.7%). Surgical cataract coverage in individuals was 76.3%. Of all eyes operated for cataract, 58.0% achieved visual acuity ≤ 20/60 with available correction. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of blindness in Panama is in line with average prevalence found in other countries of the Region. This problem can be reduced, since 76.2% of cases of blindness and 85.0% of cases of severe visual impairment result from avoidable causes.
Authors: Alexander S Himstead; Janani Prasad; Sean Melucci; Kevin M Gustafson; Paul E Israelsen; Andrew Browne Journal: Int J Ophthalmol Date: 2022-06-18 Impact factor: 1.645