Prevalence of ocular findings regardless of visual acuity status in older adults from the Brazilian Amazon Region

Abstract

Recently, it has been recommended that population-based studies report not only frequencies of vision impairment and blindness but also any ocular abnormalities that might lead an individual to seek for eyecare services. The current study aimed to determine prevalence of ocular findings regardless of visual acuity (VA) status in older adults from the Brazilian Amazon Region. Disturbances were grouped into: Eyelids; Anterior Segment; Posterior Segment; Increased intraocular pressure; and Overall Globe. The presence of an ocular finding was considered positive when any abnormality was noted, regardless of VA. Refractive errors were not considered. A total 2384 eligible persons were enumerated and 2041 (85.6%) examined. The prevalence of ocular disturbances in either eye was 87.0% and was associated with male gender, older age, lower education, and rural residence. Overall, main findings were pterygium, cataract, and pinguecula, occurring in 58.8%, 45.4% and 17.4%, respectively. Among individuals with 20/20 VA in both eyes, the most frequent findings were pterygium, pinguecula, and glaucoma cupping, occurring in 47.4%, 31.2% and 6.5%, respectively. The high prevalence of ocular findings observed in this population reinforces that different conditions might not immediately decrease VA but can indicate risk and/or discomfort symptoms and should be considered when planning public health ophthalmic services.

Age-related differences in ocular features of a naturalistic free-ranging population of rhesus macaques

“…2 Several population-based studies in humans have reported increased risk of cataracts ranging from 6% to 24% for each increasing year in age, similar to our finding of 20%. 2,36,38,39 Similarly, a higher frequency of retinal drusen is expected in older individuals. 40,41 Our findings indicate a frequency of retinal drusen of 15% in the population and its significant association with age, with the odds of having drusen increasing by 9% for each year of age.…”

“…that age was not a significant predictor of IOP. 31 Results from human studies are also variable, with some reports indicating higher IOP, 32 lowerIOP, 33,34 or no IOP association 35,36 in older individuals relative to younger individuals. Finally, we found a positive association between IOP and weight, which is in agreement with expectations and previous research.…”

“…that age was not a significant predictor of IOP. 31 Results from human studies are also variable, with some reports indicating higher IOP, 32 lowerIOP, 33,34 or no IOP association 35,36 in older individuals relative to younger individuals.…”

Primary glaucomas in adults: Epidemiology and public health‐A review

“…A decade later, the same methodology was applied in Northern Brazil (Amazon region), and a lower importance of glaucoma was found (7.5% of all cases of blindness, only behind cataract) 64 . In this Brazilian population, glaucoma cupping was found in 8.8% of the subjects (adults with 45 years and older; all visual acuity groups included) 65 …”

“…64 In this Brazilian population, glaucoma cupping was found in 8.8% of the subjects (adults with 45 years and older; all visual acuity groups included). 65 The Barbados eye study, a population-based survey in the Caribbean, reported that open angle glaucoma and cataract were the main causes of blindness. Each one represented 28.0% of all blindness, with 4.0% of cases having both diagnosis.…”