The Beijing Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
This review presents and summarizes the findings of the Beijing Eye Study.


METHODS
The Beijing Eye Study is a population-based study which included 4439 of 5324 subjects (aged > or = 40 years) who were initially examined in 2001. The study was repeated in 2006, when 3251 (73.2% of 4439, or 61.1% of 5324) of the original subjects participated. Participants underwent a series of examinations including: refractometry; pneumotonometry; biomicroscopy assisted by slit-lamp; optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment; photography of the cornea, lens, optic disc, macula and fundus; blood sampling for laboratory tests; blood pressure measurements, and determinations of anthropomorphic parameters. They were also asked to complete a questionnaire which included questions on socioeconomic parameters, and awareness and treatment of ocular and general diseases.


RESULTS
We present normative data for refractive error, anterior segment measurements, intraocular pressure and optic disc structures and their associations, frequency and causes of visual impairment, blindness and visual field defects, prevalences of trachoma, pterygia, open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma, cortical, nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataract, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions, diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy, myelinated nerve fibres, and retinitis pigmentosa, and associated and risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These data may be helpful for dealing with public health issues in China and for assessing associated and risk factors of ocular and general diseases in general.
Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing, China. jost.jonas@augen.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Jost B
JB
Jonas
Liang
L
Xu
Ya Xing
YX
Wang
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology; D000886:Anthropometry; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012307:Risk Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity