Original articlePrevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Rural Myanmar: The Meiktila Eye Study
Section snippets
Sampling Procedure
The Meiktila Eye Study was a population-based, cross-sectional ophthalmic survey of the inhabitants of rural villages in central Myanmar. The principal aims of this project were to estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and the prevalence and risk factors of ocular disorders among persons 40 years of age or older in this region.
The study was conducted within the Mandalay Division, an area encompassing 34 253 km2 divided into 7 second-order administrative districts of
Results
A total of 2481 persons were eligible and 2076 were examined (836 males, 1240 females). The overall participation rate was 83.7%, and the mean age was 56.2 years (standard deviation, 11.5 years); VA could not be measured in 3 participants because of deafness or cognitive impairment, or both. The prevalence estimate of presenting blindness in the population 40+ in the Meiktila district was 8.1% (95% CI, 6.5–9.9; design effect, 2.05; 161 participants). Only 3 participants had spectacles at
Discussion
Although there has been an enormous reduction in the infective causes of blindness, the global burden of blindness has not altered appreciably for over a decade,17, 18 a situation caused by a number of factors, including increasing life expectancy in developing countries, the consequent increase in cataract and glaucoma, and the misdistribution of ophthalmic health care. Although comparisons between studies must be made cautiously because of varying definitions and study design, it is clear
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Manuscript no. 2006-740.
Pfizer Ophthalmic, Sydney, Australia, and Alcon Australia, Sydney, Australia, lent equipment for this study, but the design of the survey and its execution, analysis, interpretation, and publication were carried out independently by the authors.
The authors are aware of no conflicts of interest, of any nature, pertaining to the article.