Prevalence of blindness and low vision in an Italian population: a comparison with other European studies

Abstract

Aim The scientific literature contains recent data on the prevalence of blindness and low vision for a few European countries, but most of these studies have been focused exclusively on the elderly sector of the populations. The purpose of the present study was to provide age-specific estimates of the prevalence and causes of visual loss in an Italian population aged 40 years and over. Methods In total, 847 of the 1200 citizens 440 years of age (70.6%) in the island community of Ponza underwent complete standardized ophthalmological examinations. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using a standard logarithmic chart. World health organization (WHO) definitions of blindness and low vision were adopted (respectively, VA41.3 logMAR or a visual field o101 around central fixation, and VA 40.5 to 1.3 logMAR or a visual field o201 around central fixation). Prevalence rates based on presenting VAs were also calculated. Results The overall best-corrected prevalence rates were 0.6% (presenting, 0.8%) for better eye blindness, 2.1% (presenting, 6.7%) for better eye low vision, 1.8% (presenting, 2.6%) for monocular blindness, 5.0% (presenting, 11.2%) for monocular low vision. Cataract, glaucoma, degenerative myopia, and AMD were the main causes of better eye visual loss. Conclusion Age-specific prevalence rates in Ponza are fairly consistent with those for other European countries with similar socioeconomic conditions and public healthcare systems. A substantial percentage of visual losses remains uncorrected despite the availability of potentially curative therapy.Greater emphasis needs to be placed on educating the public regarding the importance of good vision.

Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization in Asia

“…It was ranked as the first to third most frequent cause of blindness in 6 population surveys, [22][23][24][25][26][27] and it is the primary cause in approximately 7% of individuals with low vision or blindness in European populations 22,23 and in 12% to 27% of individuals in Asian populations. [25][26][27] Myopic macular degeneration accounts for up to 12.5% of visual impairment in the Shihpai study 28 and 22.4% in the Tajimi study, where it is the leading cause of monocular blindness and third leading cause of bilateral low vision.…”

Patológiás myopia talaján kialakult érújdonképződés intravitrealis ranibizumabkezelése

“…Betegeink azonban sok esetben csak késéssel kerülnek a megfelelő centrumba, ahol a szükséges kezelést megkaphatják, ez pedig szintén magyarázhatja a kisebb mértékű javulást. További ok lehet az első évi viszonylag alacsony átlag-injekciószám (1,8), amely kevesebb mind a REPAIR (3,6), mind a RADIANCE (4,6, illetve 3,5) tanulmányban egy év alatt adott kezelések számához képest. Más tanulmányokban a mi eredményeinkhez hasonló volt az egy év alatti visusjavulás mértéke [28,31].…”

“…A chorioidealis neovascularisatio (CNV) gyakorisága patológiás myopiában 5,2-11,3%, és 15%-ban bilateralis [1]. Két európai tanulmány eredményei alapján a vakság, illetve gyengén látás 5,8, valamint 7,8%-áért a patológiás myopia tehető felelőssé [2,3]. Magyarországi adatok szerint a myopia a vakság negyedik leggyakoribb oka az időskori maculadegeneráció (AMD), a glaucoma és a diabeteses retinopathia után (két megye adatai alapján a vakság 10,8%-ért tehető felelőssé), fiatalabb korban ez az arány még magasabb (a 0-39 éves korcsoportban 21%, a 40-59 éves korcsoportban 14%) [4].…”

Age-specific changes in the prevalence and management of optically correctable visual impairment between 1988 and 2000: the Ponza Eye Study

“…[23][24][25] Visual acuity (VA), which is the specific focus of the present analysis, was evaluated separately for each eye with a standard 10-letter logarithmic chart at a distance of 4 m. 26 Near and distant VA was evaluated under uncorrected (VA UC ), presenting (VA PR ), ie with any corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) being used by the subject (information elicited by specific questioning), and best-corrected (VA BC ) conditions. The latter evaluation was based on automated measurement of refraction and the results of trial correction using spherical and cylindrical lenses, the red-green duochrome test, and the dynamic crosscylinder test in natural accommodation.…”

“…The recruitment methods used have been fully described elsewhere. [23][24][25] The study began in 1988, when standardized ophthalmologic examinations were offered to all legal residents of Ponza aged 40 years and over who actually lived in the community for at least 9 months of the year (eligible population). In the spring of 2000, a follow-up study was conducted to determine the incidence of VI; the results have been reported elsewhere.…”