title: Changed trends of major causes of visual impairment in Sichuan, China from 1987 to 2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the trends of major causes of visual impairment (VI) in adults in Sichuan, China and evaluate the effect of aging on the trends.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the National Sample Survey on Disabilities (NSSD) in Sichuan province conducted in 1987 and 2006. The age-adjusted prevalence of major causes of VI and the prevalence stratified by age in each cause were calculated and compared. The association between age and each cause of VI was also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retinal disease increased and became the second leading cause of VI in 2006 while blinding trachoma decreased markedly. Cataract and non-trachomatous corneal diseases were among the leading causes of VI in both years. We found associations between age and causes of VI, with age showing the strongest association with cataract and relatively lower associations with other causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the last two decades, dramatic changes occurred in the major causes of VI with significantly increased retinal disease and decreased blinding trachoma. Aging of the population might be an important factor accounting for the changed trends of VI. Understanding the prevalence of VI, its major causes and trends over time can assist in prioritizing and developing effective interventional strategies and monitoring their impact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China ; Institute of Laboratory Animals, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animals, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Luzhou People's Hospital of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Records and Statistics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: June E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Eichner
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA ; Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA ; Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: P Lloyd
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Critical Care, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215004, Jiangsu Province, ,China.
authors.forename: Shu-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Methodology Center, College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA.
authors.forename: Jing-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: cataract; eye trauma; glaucoma; non-trachomatous corneal disease; prevalence; retinal disease; trachoma; visual impairment