Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Rural Myanmar: The Meiktila Eye Study

doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2007.02.004

Ophthalmology

Volume 114, Issue 12, December 2007, Pages 2302-2308

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2007.02.004 Get rights and content

Objective

To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the Meiktila district of central, rural Myanmar.

Design

Population-based cross-sectional study.

Participants

Random, stratified, cluster sampling of the inhabitants 40 years of age and older from villages in the Meiktila district was performed; 2481 eligible participants were identified and 2076 participated in the study.

Methods

The ophthalmic examination included presenting and pinhole Snellen visual acuity with an illiterate E chart, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment, and dilated stereoscopic fundus examination. The principal cause of visual impairment was recorded.

Main Outcome Measures

Visual impairment and blindness were defined by both presenting and corrected visual acuity according to World Health Organization criteria: better eye < 6/18 and < 3/60, respectively.

Results

Comprehensive examinations, including Snellen visual acuity, were performed on 2073 participants (83.6%) The prevalence estimate of presenting visual impairment was 40.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.1–44.7) and of presenting blindness was 8.1% (95% CI, 6.5–9.9). After pinhole correction, the corresponding prevalences were 26.8% (95% CI, 23.5–30.1) and 5.3% (95% CI, 4.0–6.6). Cataract, uncorrected refractive error, and glaucoma were the most common causes of visual impairment.

Conclusions

Visual impairment and blindness remain major public health problems in rural Myanmar. Specific programs directed toward reducing the cataract burden need to be implemented.

Section snippets

Sampling Procedure

The Meiktila Eye Study was a population-based, cross-sectional ophthalmic survey of the inhabitants of rural villages in central Myanmar. The principal aims of this project were to estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and the prevalence and risk factors of ocular disorders among persons 40 years of age or older in this region.

The study was conducted within the Mandalay Division, an area encompassing 34 253 km² divided into 7 second-order administrative districts of

Results

A total of 2481 persons were eligible and 2076 were examined (836 males, 1240 females). The overall participation rate was 83.7%, and the mean age was 56.2 years (standard deviation, 11.5 years); VA could not be measured in 3 participants because of deafness or cognitive impairment, or both. The prevalence estimate of presenting blindness in the population 40+ in the Meiktila district was 8.1% (95% CI, 6.5–9.9; design effect, 2.05; 161 participants). Only 3 participants had spectacles at

Discussion

Although there has been an enormous reduction in the infective causes of blindness, the global burden of blindness has not altered appreciably for over a decade,17, 18 a situation caused by a number of factors, including increasing life expectancy in developing countries, the consequent increase in cataract and glaucoma, and the misdistribution of ophthalmic health care. Although comparisons between studies must be made cautiously because of varying definitions and study design, it is clear

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Manuscript no. 2006-740.

Pfizer Ophthalmic, Sydney, Australia, and Alcon Australia, Sydney, Australia, lent equipment for this study, but the design of the survey and its execution, analysis, interpretation, and publication were carried out independently by the authors.

The authors are aware of no conflicts of interest, of any nature, pertaining to the article.

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Original articlePrevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Rural Myanmar: The Meiktila Eye Study

Objective

Design

Participants

Methods

Main Outcome Measures

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Sampling Procedure

Results

Discussion

Am J Ophthalmol

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

2002 global update of available data on visual impairment: a compilation of population-based prevalence studies

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

Global data on visual impairment in the year 2002

Bull World Health Organ

The epidemiology of age related eye diseases in Asia

Br J Ophthalmol

Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in Mongolia: a survey of populations aged 40 years and older

Bull World Health Organ

Prevalence of blindness and cataract surgery in Nepal

Br J Ophthalmol

Prevalence of visual impairment, blindness, and cataract surgery in the Hong Kong elderly

Br J Ophthalmol

Prevalence of blindness and low vision in Malaysian population: results from the National Eye Survey 1996

Br J Ophthalmol

Causes of low vision and blindness in rural Indonesia

Br J Ophthalmol

Original article
Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Rural Myanmar: The Meiktila Eye Study