Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Negros Island and Antique District, Philippines.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct rapid assessments of avoidable blindness to estimate the magnitude and causes of blindness in people aged >/=50 years in Negros Island and Antique district, Philippines.


METHODS
Clusters of 50 people aged >/=50 years were sampled with probability proportionate to size. Households within clusters were selected through compact segment sampling. Visual acuity (VA) was measured with a tumbling "E" chart. Ophthalmologists examined people with VA<6/18 in either eye.


RESULTS
In Negros, 2774 of 3649 enumerated subjects were examined (76.0%) and 3177 of 3842 enumerated subjects in Antique (82.7%). The prevalence of blindness (presenting VA<3/60 in better eye) was 2.6% (95% CI = 2.0 to 3.2%) in Negros and 3.0% (2.4 to 3.6%) in Antique. The leading cause of blindness was untreated cataract, and was refractive error for visual impairment (VA<6/18 to >/=6/60). Most of the cases of blindness (67% in Negros, 82% in Antique) and visual impairment (94% in Negros, 95% in Antique) were avoidable (ie, operated and unoperated cataract, refractive error and corneal scar). In Negros, 23% of eyes had a poor outcome after cataract surgery, and 13% in Antique.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of blindness in two areas in the Philippines was relatively low. Since most cases were avoidable, further reductions are possible.
Eusebio
Cristina
C
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Kuper
Hannah
H
Polack
Sarah
S
Enconado
John
J
Tongson
Noel
N
Dionio
Donald
D
Dumdum
Anne
A
Limburg
Hans
H
Foster
Allen
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000592:standards; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000150:complications; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity