Ubeydulla Thoufeeq1, Taraprasad Das2,3, Hans Limburg4, Maharshi Maitra5, Lapam Panda6, Asim Sil5, John Trevelyan7, Yuddha Sapkota2. 1. Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health, Maldives. 2. International Agency for Prevention of Blindness South East Asia Regional Office, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India. 3. L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India. 4. International Centre for Eye Health, London, UK. 5. Netra Niramaya Niketan, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. 6. L V Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India. 7. International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, London, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: A nationwide rapid assessment of avoidable blindness survey was undertaken in the Maldives among people aged 50 years or more to assess the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment, cataract surgical coverage, cataract surgery outcome, and barriers to uptake of cataract surgical services. DESIGN: Prospective population-based study. METHODS: In the cluster sampling probability proportionate to size method, 3100 participants in 62 clusters across all 20 atolls were enrolled through house-to-house visits. They were examined in clusters by an ophthalmologist-led team. Data was recorded in mRAAB version 1.25 software on a smartphone. RESULTS: The age-sex standardized prevalence of blindness was 2.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-2.6]. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness (51.4%) and uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of visual impairment (50.9%). Blindness was more prevalent in higher age groups and women (16.3%). Cataract surgical coverage was 86% in cataract blind eyes and 93.5% in cataract blind persons. Good visual outcome in cataract operated eyes was 67.9% (presenting) and 76.6% (best corrected visual acuity). In this study, 48.1% of people had received cataract surgery in neighboring countries. Important barriers for not using the services were "did not feel the need" (29.7%) and "treatment deferred" (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgical coverage is good, though nearly half the people received surgery outside the Maldives. Cataract surgery outcomes are below World Health Organization standards. Some barriers could be overcome with additional human resources and training to improve cataract surgical outcomes, which could encourage greater uptake of services within the country. Copyright 2018 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
PURPOSE: A nationwide rapid assessment of avoidable blindness survey was undertaken in the Maldives among people aged 50 years or more to assess the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment, cataract surgical coverage, cataract surgery outcome, and barriers to uptake of cataract surgical services. DESIGN: Prospective population-based study. METHODS: In the cluster sampling probability proportionate to size method, 3100 participants in 62 clusters across all 20 atolls were enrolled through house-to-house visits. They were examined in clusters by an ophthalmologist-led team. Data was recorded in mRAAB version 1.25 software on a smartphone. RESULTS: The age-sex standardized prevalence of blindness was 2.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-2.6]. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness (51.4%) and uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of visual impairment (50.9%). Blindness was more prevalent in higher age groups and women (16.3%). Cataract surgical coverage was 86% in cataract blind eyes and 93.5% in cataract blindpersons. Good visual outcome in cataract operated eyes was 67.9% (presenting) and 76.6% (best corrected visual acuity). In this study, 48.1% of people had received cataract surgery in neighboring countries. Important barriers for not using the services were "did not feel the need" (29.7%) and "treatment deferred" (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS:Cataract surgical coverage is good, though nearly half the people received surgery outside the Maldives. Cataract surgery outcomes are below World Health Organization standards. Some barriers could be overcome with additional human resources and training to improve cataract surgical outcomes, which could encourage greater uptake of services within the country. Copyright 2018 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.