Premium
Five‐year visual outcome among people with correctable visual impairment: the Liwan Eye Study
Author(s) -
Wang Lanhua,
Zhao Yanzhi,
Han Xiaotong,
Huang Wenyong,
Huang Guofu,
He Mingguang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1111/ceo.13127
Subject(s) - medicine , visual acuity , visual impairment , ophthalmology , refractive error , logistic regression , subjective refraction , optometry , diabetic retinopathy , population , eye examination , surgery , diabetes mellitus , environmental health , psychiatry , endocrinology
Importance Longitudinal data on visual outcome of correctable visual impairments (VI) are of paramount importance for decision‐maker to estimate burden and demand to treat avoidable VI. Background To assess the 5‐year visual outcome among participants with correctable VI and to identify associated risk factors. Design Population‐based longitudinal cohort study. Participants Participants with correctable VI at baseline attended the 5‐year follow‐up visit of the Liwan Eye Study. Methods Presenting visual acuity (PVA) with habitual refractive correction was assessed using an Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. Then participants with PVA <6/12 in either eye underwent further non‐cycloplegic subjective refraction to obtain their best‐corrected visual acuity. Correctable VI was defined as having a PVA of <6/12 in the better eye which could be improved to ≥6/12 after refractive correction. Main Outcome Measures The 5‐year visual outcome among participants with correctable VI. Results Among 1405 participants at baseline examination, 188 (13.4%) had correctable VI, of whom 118 (62.8%) were re‐examined at the 5‐year follow‐up, including 39 (33.9%) who progressed to non‐correctable VI, 43 (37.4%) who had persistent correctable VI and 33 (28.7%) who were converted to normal vision. In multivariate logistic regression, compared with participants who were no longer visual impaired, significant risk factors for participants with persistent VI were older, had income <1000 RMB/month, and more myopia spherical equivalent. Conclusions and Relevance Over two of three participants with correctable VI remained to have VI after 5 years, among whom 50% are correctable by spectacles, highlighting the need to improve the refractive care accessibility to treat avoidable VI in China.