The Epidemiological Investigation Of Visual Impairment In Tianjin

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence,to indicate the main causes and to investigate the risk factors of visual impairment in all ages in Tianjin,China.To provide relevant data to help government departments formulate relevant political,economic and fiscal policies.Research Content: To estimate the prevalence of visual impairment in different ages and the prevalence of visual impairment in all age groups in Tianjin.To investigate and analyze diseases related to visual impairment and risk factors associated with visual impairment,for example: age,sex,education degree,economic income status,life habit,and disease history,etc.Methods: We used a stratified random cluster sampling method and evaluated 12233 people in all ages.Participants received a professional ophthalmology examination including: visual acuity(VA),best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),slit-lamp examination,fundus examination.The participant who was suspected of eye disorders may receive a more detailed examination to evaluate the prevalence of visual impairment and to find out the causes of it.All the participants finished a questionnaire about the basic information,health condition,hobbies and eye care habits.All the data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software.Multiple factor logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of visual impairment.The difference was considered as statistically significant if P<0.05.Results: Using The World Health Organization(WHO)BCVA criteria,12233 people were included in this study,310 people suffering visual impairment,the total prevalence of visual impairment(BCVA <20/63)was 2.534%.The prevalence in 0-6 years old people was 0.00%,in 7-17 years old people was 0.168%,in 18-49 years old people was 1.075%,and 6.538% in age over 50 years old people.The first five causes of visual impairment in the total population were cataract(1.226%),refractive error/amblyopia(0.450%),age-related macular degeneration(0.253%),diabetic retinopathy(0.147%)and glaucoma(0.098%).The main causes in 0-17 years old people were refractive error/amblyopia(0.144%)and nystagmus(0.024%),in 18-49 years old people were refractive error/amblyopia(0.571%),cataract(0.168%),in 50+ years old people were cataract(3.498%),refractive error/amblyopia(0.772%),age-related macular degeneration(AMD)(0.724%),diabetic retinopathy(0.410%)and glaucoma(0.241%).We found that for the demographic characteristic,sex was a risk factor to visual impairment in 18-49 years old people.In 50+ years old people for medical histories,diabetes was a risk factor and for the demographic characteristic,sex was a risk factor to visual impairment.Females,older age people and diabetic patients are more likely to suffer from visual impairment.We used the categories of visual impairment which defined by World Health Organization in 1973 as a criteria to classify the population of 50+ years old,and we found 83.03% people were in level 1,11.44% people were in level 2,2.58% people were in level 3,2.95% people were in level 4.The vast majority of visual impairment is a mild visual disability at level 1.Conclusions: Visual impairment is an important public health problem in Tianjin,and even in China.The main causes of visual impairment in Tianjin were cataract,refractive error/amblyopia,AMD,diabetic retinopathy,glaucoma.Government attention and intervention should be given to popularize and develop cataract surgery,correct refractive error,and early screening of AMD,diabetes and glaucoma.