title: [Survey on avoidable blindness and visual impairment in Panama].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in adults aged ≥ 50 years in Panama, identify their main causes, and characterize eye health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population study using standard Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology. Fifty people aged ≥ 50 years were selected from each of 84 clusters chosen through representative random sampling of the entire country. Visual acuity was assessed using a Snellen chart; lens and posterior pole status were assessed by direct ophthalmoscopy. Cataract surgery coverage was calculated and its quality assessed, along with causes of visual acuity < 20/60 and barriers to access to surgical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4 125 people were examined (98.2% of the calculated sample). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness was 3.0% (95% CI: 2.3-3.6). The main cause of blindness was cataract (66.4%), followed by glaucoma (10.2%). Cataract (69.2%) was the main cause of severe visual impairment and uncorrected refractive errors were the main cause of moderate visual impairment (60.7%). Surgical cataract coverage in individuals was 76.3%. Of all eyes operated for cataract, 58.0% achieved visual acuity ≤ 20/60 with available correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of blindness in Panama is in line with average prevalence found in other countries of the Region. This problem can be reduced, since 76.2% of cases of blindness and 85.0% of cases of severe visual impairment result from avoidable causes.
authors.affiliation: Comité Nacional VISION 2020, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, maritzalopez15@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Comité Nacional VISION 2020, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, maritzalopez15@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brea
authors.affiliation: Hospital Santo Tomás, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: Caja de Seguro Social, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Ministerio de Salud, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carles
authors.affiliation: Caja de Seguro Social, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broce
authors.affiliation: Health Information Services, Grootebroek.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Limburg
authors.affiliation: Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*