Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnitude and determinants of bilateral blindness and visual impairment (VI) in the southwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. This cross-sectional study conducted during 2013 and 2014 targeted people of all ages in 10 districts in the southwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. Ophthalmologists in a mobile unit measured visual acuity and examined eyes. Visual acuity was categorized according to the World Health Organization sex-adjusted rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Number of blindness and visually impaired was projected for the entire study area. We examined 2,306 participants. The age- and sex-adjusted frequency of bilateral blindness was 0.26% (95% CI: 0.1-0.4). Females (0.35%) and patients 350 years old (0.58%) had higher rate of blindness compared with males and younger individuals. The rate of severe VI was 9.1% (95% CI: 8.8-10.6) and was higher among males (11.6%) and those 350 years (12.3%). There could be 880 people with bilateral SVI in the study area. Bilateral severe VI was attributed to cataracts in 63% and was attributed to refractive error in 18%. Visual impairment and blindness in the study population was low and mainly due to cataract and refractive errors. Initiatives should be addressed by health care services to further reduce avoidable blindness in the region.
Highlights
The global estimate of visually impaired (VI) worldwide in 2017 was 253 million(1)
Severe VI (SVI) was noted on presenting visual acuity (VA) testing in 164 (8.1%) participants over the age of 20, of whom 104 (63.4%) still had SVI with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
Among participants younger than 20 years, 46 (1.9% of the entire sample of 2306) had SVI based on uncorrected VA, of whom only five had BCVA less than 3/60 in the better eye
Summary
The global estimate of visually impaired (VI) worldwide in 2017 was 253 million (blindness in 36 million and moderate-to-severe visual impairment in 217 million)(1). The prevalence of blindness and VI as well as the causes vary around the world[1] and within Latin American countries[2]. Accurate data are crucial for planning for and monitoring the progress of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness in all member countries[3]. This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions 4.0 International License. Brazil is within the region of the Americas designated by the World Health Organization[4]. Based on the census of 2010, the estimated population of Brazil in 2014 was 200 million[4]. Despite Brazil is rapidly evolving economy, poverty remains an important issue and has an impact on access to appropriate ophthalmic care[6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
