title: [National survey of blindness and avoidable visual impairment in Argentina, 2013].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the prevalence of blindness and avoidable visual impairment in Argentina, its causes, the coverage of cataract surgery, and the barriers that hinder access to these services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population study conducted between May and November 2013 using the standard methodology for rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB), with a random cluster sampling of 50 people aged 50 years or more, -representative of the entire country. Participants' visual acuity (VA) was measured and the lens and posterior pole were examined by direct ophthalmoscopy. An assessment was made of the causes of having VA < 20/60, the coverage and quality of cataract surgery, and the barriers to accessing treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3 770 people were assessed (92.0% of the projected number). The prevalence of blindness was 0.7% (confidence interval of 95%: 0.4-1.0%). Unoperated cataract was the main cause of blindness and severe visual impairment (44.0% and 71.1%, respectively), while the main cause of moderate visual impairment was uncorrected refractive errors (77.8%). Coverage of cataract surgery was of 97.1%, and 82.0% of operated eyes achieved VA ≥ 20/60. The main barriers to receiving this treatment were fear of the surgical procedure or of a poor result (34.9%), the cost (30.2%), and not having access to the treatment (16.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a low prevalence of blindness in the studied population and cataract is the main cause of blindness and severe visual impairment. Efforts should continue to extend coverage of cataract surgery, enhance preoperative evaluation, improve calculations of the intraocular lenses that patients need, and correct post-operative refractive errors with greater precision.
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Barrenechea
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Inés
authors: I
authors: de la Fuente
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Roberto Gustavo
authors: RG
authors: Plaza
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Flores
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Lía
authors: L
authors: Segovia
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Zaida
authors: Z
authors: Villagómez
authors: Programa de Salud Ocular y Prevención de la Ceguera, Secretaría de Determinantes de la Salud, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina.
authors: Esteban Elián
authors: EE
authors: Camarero
authors: Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México.
authors: Luz Consuelo
authors: LC
authors: Zepeda-Romero
authors: Agencia Internacional para la Prevención de la Ceguera, D.F, México.
authors: Van C
authors: VC
authors: Lansingh
authors: Health Information Services.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Limburg
authors: Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Silva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control