Prevalence and causes of visual impairment in rural myanmar: the Meiktila Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the Meiktila district of central, rural Myanmar.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Random, stratified, cluster sampling of the inhabitants 40 years of age and older from villages in the Meiktila district was performed; 2481 eligible participants were identified and 2076 participated in the study.


METHODS
The ophthalmic examination included presenting and pinhole Snellen visual acuity with an illiterate E chart, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment, and dilated stereoscopic fundus examination. The principal cause of visual impairment was recorded.


METHODS
Visual impairment and blindness were defined by both presenting and corrected visual acuity according to World Health Organization criteria: better eye < 6/18 and < 3/60, respectively.


RESULTS
Comprehensive examinations, including Snellen visual acuity, were performed on 2073 participants (83.6%) The prevalence estimate of presenting visual impairment was 40.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.1-44.7) and of presenting blindness was 8.1% (95% CI, 6.5-9.9). After pinhole correction, the corresponding prevalences were 26.8% (95% CI, 23.5-30.1) and 5.3% (95% CI, 4.0-6.6). Cataract, uncorrected refractive error, and glaucoma were the most common causes of visual impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual impairment and blindness remain major public health problems in rural Myanmar. Specific programs directed toward reducing the cataract burden need to be implemented.
Casson
Robert J
RJ
South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Adelaide, Australia. robert.casson@adelaide.edu.au
Newland
H S
HS
Muecke
J
J
McGovern
S
S
Durkin
S
S
Sullivan
T
T
Oo
T Z
TZ
Aung
T H
TH
Shein
W K
WK
Selva
D
D
Aung
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*