Related Experiment Videos
Refractive errors and cataract as causes of visual impairment in Brazil
Carlos Eduardo Leite Arieta1, Alzira Maria Nicolini Delgado, Newton Kara José
1Department of Ophthalmology, UNICAMP, Campinas State University, São Paulo, Brazil.
Purpose:
To identify the main causes of visual impairment (VA
Methods:
A retrospective review of the ophthalmic forms used for 60,404 patients examined in 74 Cataract Projects was performed. Through mass media information, adults of the target region or city were asked to self-test their vision. Patients with VA
Results:
After the self-test of visual acuity, 60,404 patients came to have their visual acuity tested; 11,462 (18.97%) cases were considered positive and were submitted to complete eye examination; 5447 (42.7%) received spectacles for vision improvement, and 2704 (23.59%) had cataract surgery done. Other important causes of visual impairment were senile macular degeneration (5.4%) and glaucoma (4.02%).
Conclusion:
The main causes of visual impairment were non-corrected refractive errors and senile cataract. Ophthalmic community-based campaigns to serve the older population are recommended in order to detect and treat the identified cases and to indicate possible changes in the health care system.