Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in India
Author Information
Author(s): Neena John, Rachel Jose, Praveen Vashist, Murthy Gudlavalleti V. S.
Primary Institution: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
What is the magnitude and causes of avoidable blindness in India among the population aged 50 and above?
Conclusion
Cataract and refractive errors are major causes of blindness and low vision, and most of this burden is avoidable.
Supporting Evidence
- 4.4% of individuals were severely visually impaired.
- 3.6% of individuals were blind.
- 16.8% suffered from visual impairment.
- 88.2% of blindness was avoidable.
Takeaway
The study looked at how many older people in India have avoidable blindness and found that many could be helped with better eye care.
Methodology
Stratified cluster sampling was used to examine individuals aged 50 and above in randomly selected districts.
Potential Biases
The survey may underrepresent working males as it was conducted during the day.
Limitations
The study may have over-diagnosed cataract due to the examination method used.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 61.5 years, with 54.5% female and 45.5% male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 4.1–4.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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