title: Prevalence of infectious keratitis in Central China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The baseline data pertaining to the national epidemiological survey of infectious keratitis remain scarce in China, and currently there is no corneal blindness control strategy developed by the nation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Geographically defined cluster sampling was used to randomly select a cross-section of residents from representative urban and rural populations in Hubei Province. Participants were selected from village registers, followed by door-to-door household visits. The assessment items included a structured interview, visual acuity testing, external eye examination, and anterior segment examination using slit lamp. Causes and sequelae of corneal disease were identified according to uniform customized protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of presenting corneal diseases was 0.8% (211/26 305), while the prevalence of infectious keratitis was 0.148% (39/26 305). The prevalences of viral, bacterial, and fungal keratitis were 0.065, 0.068, and 0.015%, respectively. There were no significant differences found between the prevalences of viral (accounting for 43.6%) and bacterial (accounting for 46.2%) corneal ulcers. cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis were not found. Infectious keratitis was the leading cause of corneal blindness (85.7%), and the prevalence of blindness in at least one eye resulting from infected corneas was 0.091% (95% CI: 0.067-0.127%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Viral and bacterial mechanisms constitute the most important risk factors for infectious corneal ulcers in Central China. To reduce the rate and severity of infectious keratitis, he public health care policy should be focused on designing cost-effective strategies and operational programs for the prevention and prompt treatment of infectious corneal ulcers.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Wuhan University, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. ophyyn@163.com.
authors.forename: Yanning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wanju
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ruoxi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yiqiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007634:Keratitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult