Prevalence Of Blindness And Moderate And Severe Visual Impairment Among Adults Aged 50 Years Or Above In The Shunqing District Of Nanchong

Objective: To assess the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged≥50 years in the Shunqing district of Nanchong,Sichuan Province.Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study, Cluster sampling was used in randomly selected in 13 clusters aged ≥ 50 years in the Shunqing district of Nanchong from May to December 2013.All individuals were received visual acuity and eye examination, prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment was calculated according to different age, gender and education. The diagnostic criteria was followed by the standard with presenting and best corrected visual acuity.The data were analyzed by the statistical software SPSS 13.0.Results: 3086 individuals were enumerated,the response rate was 93.74%, Based on the criteria of World Health Organization visual impairment classification,the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment defined as best corrected visual acuity was 2.30%(71/3086) and 6.51%(201/3086). Meanwhile,the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment defined as presenting visual acuity was 2.88%(89/3086) and 12.44%(384/3086). According to presenting and best corrected visual acuity, The prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment was higher in aged(BCVA trend = 881.359, P = 0.000; trend of PVA = 772.715, P = 0.000), female(BCVA: = 45.192, P = 0.000; PVA: = 41.279, P = 0.000), illiterate(BCVA trend = 145.540, P = 0.000; trend of PVA = 107.628, P = 0.000).The first leading cause of blindness and visual impairment is the Cataract.Conclusions:1 The prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged≥50 years in the Shunqing district of Nanchong was higher than other district, Cataract is the key of prevention of blindness.2 The prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged≥50 years in the Shunqing district of Nanchong increases with ages.3 The femaleˊs prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairement among adults aged≥50 years in the Shunqing district of Nanchong is higher than maleˊs.4 The prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged≥50 years in the Shunqing district of Nanchong increases with education level.