Prevalence and causes of vision impairment and blindness in older adults in Brazil: the Sao Paulo Eye Study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Investigate prevalence and causes of vision impairment/blindness in older adults in a low-middle income area of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

METHODS:

Cluster sampling, based on geographically defined census sectors, was used in randomly selecting cross-sectionally persons 50 years of age or older. Subjects were enumerated through a door-to-door survey and invited for measurement of presenting and best-corrected visual acuity and an ocular examination. The principal cause was identified for eyes with presenting visual acuity less than 20/32.

RESULTS:

A total of 4,224 eligible persons in 2,870 households were enumerated, and 3,678 (87.1%) examined. The prevalence of presenting visual acuity > or = 20/32 in both eyes was 61.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.4%-63.9%), and 80.4% (95% CI: 78.8%-82.1%) with best correction. The prevalence of visual impairment (< 20/63 to > or =20/200) in the better eye was 4.74% (95% CI: 3.97%-5.53%), and 2.00% (95% CI: 1.52%-2.49%) with best correction. The prevalence of presenting bilateral blindness (< 20/200) was 1.51% (95% CI: 1.20%-1.82%), and 1.07% (95% CI: 0.79%-1.35%) with best correction. Presenting blindness was associated with older age and lack of schooling. Retinal disorders (35.3%) and cataract (28.3%) were the most common causes of blind eyes. Cataract (33.2%), refractive error (32.3%), and retinal disorders (20.3%) were the main causes of vision impairment < 20/63 to > or = 20/200, with refractive error (76.8%) and cataract (12.2%) as main causes for eyes with acuity < 20/32 to > or = 20/63.

CONCLUSIONS:

Vision impairment is a significant problem in older Brazilians reinforcing the need to implement prevention of blindness programs for elderly people with emphasis on those without schooling.

• Authors: Solange R Salomao, Rafael W Cinoto, Adriana Berezovsky, Arnaud Araujo-Filho, Marcia R K H Mitsuhiro, Luana Mendieta, Paulo H A Morales, Gopal P Pokharel, Rubens Belfort Jr, Leon B Ellwein
• Journal: Ophthalmic epidemiology (Ophthalmic Epidemiol) 2008 May-Jun Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 167-75 ISSN: 1744-5086 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18569812 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Blindness (epidemiology, etiology)
• Brazil (epidemiology)
• Cataract (complications)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Refractive Errors (complications)
• Retinal Diseases (complications)
• Vision Disorders (epidemiology, etiology, physiopathology)
• Vision, Binocular
• Visual Acuity