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Childhood blindness and visual impairment in the Narayani Zone of Nepal: a population-based survey

R N Byanju1, Ram Prasad Kandel2, Prasanna Sharma2

  • 1a Ophthalmology , Bharatpur Eye Hospital , Bharatpur , Nepal.

Ophthalmic Epidemiology
|April 30, 2019
PubMed

Insights

In Nepal, moderate childhood visual impairment, including blindness, was found, with refractive errors being a leading cause. A high percentage of these cases were avoidable, highlighting the need for better pediatric eye care services.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood blindness and visual impairment pose a significant public health challenge globally.
  • Limited data exists on the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in children in Nepal.
  • Narayani Zone, Nepal, was selected for this study to address this data gap.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the prevalence of blindness (BL), severe visual impairment (SVI), moderate visual impairment (ModVI), and mild visual impairment (MildVI) in children aged 0-15 years in Narayani Zone, Nepal.
  • To identify the primary causes of visual impairment in this pediatric population.
  • To determine the proportion of avoidable causes of visual impairment.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based survey was conducted in 100 clusters in Narayani Zone, Nepal, in 2017.
  • Children with suspected visual problems were identified by key informants and school teachers and referred for ophthalmologic examination.
  • Visual impairment was classified using World Health Organization definitions, and causes were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Out of 72,900 screened children, 128 were diagnosed with visual impairment (BL/SVI/ModVI/MildVI).
  • The combined prevalence of BL/SVI/ModVI/MildVI was 175 per 100,000 children.
  • Refractive errors (55%) and whole globe disorders (12%) were the leading causes, with 74% of cases being avoidable.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood visual impairment in Narayani Zone, Nepal, is of moderate prevalence and characterized by a high rate of avoidable and treatable conditions.
  • There is a critical need to enhance pediatric ophthalmic services, particularly refractive error correction, in rural Nepal.
  • Early detection and intervention are crucial to reduce the burden of childhood visual impairment.

Keywords:
population basedBlindness surveyNarayani ZoneNepalchildhood

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