title: A multi-center, cross-sectional study on the burden of infectious keratitis in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the prevalence and demographic characteristics of infectious keratitis and infectious corneal blindness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-center, population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to August 31, 2010. A total of 191,242 individuals of all age groups from 10 geographically representative provinces were sampled using stratified, multi-stage, random and systematic sampling procedures. A majority, 168,673 (88.2%), of those sampled participated in the study. The examination protocol included a structured interview, visual acuity testing, an external eye examination, and an anterior segment examination using a slit lamp. The causes and sequelae of corneal disease were identified using uniform customized protocols. Blindness in one eye caused by infectious keratitis was defined as infectious corneal blindness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of past and active infectious keratitis was 0.192% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.171-0.213%), and the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and fungal keratitis was 0.11%, 0.075%, and 0.007%, respectively. There were 138 cases of infectious corneal blindness in at least one eye in the study population (prevalence of 0.082% [95%CI, 0.068%-0.095%]). Statistical analysis suggested that ocular trauma, alcoholic consumption, low socioeconomic levels, advanced age, and poor education were risk factors for infectious corneal blindness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infectious keratitis is the leading cause of corneal blindness in China. Eye care strategies should focus on the prevention and rehabilitation of infectious corneal blindness.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiusheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Public Health College of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhichong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Yanning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yuansheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Eye Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yingping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First clinical College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Shaoying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jianjiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xuguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: The People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China.
authors.forename: Xunlun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult