Prevalence of ocular findings regardless of visual acuity status in older adults from the Brazilian Amazon Region.

Recently, it has been recommended that population-based studies report not only frequencies of vision impairment and blindness but also any ocular abnormalities that might lead an individual to seek for eyecare services. The current study aimed to determine prevalence of ocular findings regardless of visual acuity (VA) status in older adults from the Brazilian Amazon Region. Disturbances were grouped into: Eyelids; Anterior Segment; Posterior Segment; Increased intraocular pressure; and Overall Globe. The presence of an ocular finding was considered positive when any abnormality was noted, regardless of VA. Refractive errors were not considered. A total 2384 eligible persons were enumerated and 2041 (85.6%) examined. The prevalence of ocular disturbances in either eye was 87.0% and was associated with male gender, older age, lower education, and rural residence. Overall, main findings were pterygium, cataract, and pinguecula, occurring in 58.8%, 45.4% and 17.4%, respectively. Among individuals with 20/20 VA in both eyes, the most frequent findings were pterygium, pinguecula, and glaucoma cupping, occurring in 47.4%, 31.2% and 6.5%, respectively. The high prevalence of ocular findings observed in this population reinforces that different conditions might not immediately decrease VA but can indicate risk and/or discomfort symptoms and should be considered when planning public health ophthalmic services.

Pterygium in adults from the Brazilian Amazon Region: prevalence, visual status and refractive errors.

AIMS: To determine prevalence of pterygium, its role as main cause of unilateral and bilateral visual impairment and blindness and its impact on refractive errors from adults living in a high ultraviolet exposure area in the Brazilian Amazon Region. METHODS: Cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting subjects ≥45 years of age from urban and rural areas of Parintins city. Eligible subjects were enumerated through a door-to-door household survey and invited for an eye exam including refraction. Pterygium was assessed considering location (nasal, temporal or both) and size (<3 mm or ≥3 mm reaching or not pupillary margin). RESULTS: A total of 2384 persons were enumerated and 2041 (85.6%) were examined. Prevalence of pterygium was 58.8% (95% CI 53.8% to 63.7%) and associated with male gender (OR=1.63; 95% CI 1.37 to 1.94; p=0.001), while higher education was a protective factor (OR=0.63; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.92; p=0.018). Older age and rural residence were associated with pterygium ≥3 mm reaching or not pupillary margin, while higher education was a protective factor for pterygium ≥3 mm reaching pupillary margin. Prevalence of pterygium as cause of visual impairment and blindness was 14.3% and 3.9%, respectively. Significantly higher hyperopic refractive errors were found in eyes with pterygium ≥3 mm reaching or not pupillary margin. CONCLUSIONS: Pterygium was highly prevalent and the second cause of visual impairment and blindness after provision of refractive correction. Risk factors for pterygium were male gender, advanced age, lower education and rural residency. Strategies to provide pterygium early detection and proper management should be considered by healthcare authorities in this population.

Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness in Adults Aged 45 Years and Older from Parintins: The Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in adults aged 45 years and older from Parintins, Brazilian Amazon Region. Methods: A random cluster sampling method was used to identify subjects 45 years of age and older from urban and rural census sectors of Parintins city, Amazonas State, from March 2014 to May 2015. Participants underwent a detailed ocular examination, including presenting (PVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The main cause of PVA<20/32 per eye was determined. Results: A total of 2384 subjects were enumerated and 2041 (85.6%) examined. The prevalence of presenting mild visual impairment - MiVI (<20/32 - ≥20/63) in the better-seeing eye was 17.0% [95% CI: 15.3-18.7%], and 8.5% [95% CI: 7.3-9.7%] with best correction. The prevalence of presenting moderate visual impairment - MVI (<20/63 - ≥20/200) was 18.4% [95% CI: 16.2-20.6%], and 6.9% [95% CI: 5.8-8.0%] with best correction. The prevalence of presenting bilateral VA <20/200 was 4.3% [95% CI: 3.6-5.0%], and 3.3% [95% CI: 2.5-4.0%] with best correction and increased with older age. Cataract (47.8%) and glaucoma (7.5%) were its main causes. In less severely affected eyes, uncorrected refractive errors (MVI: 42.6%; MiVI: 79.0%), cataract (MVI: 40.6%; MiVI: 13.7%) and pterygium (MVI: 7.6%; MiVI: 2.7%) were the main causes. Conclusions: Most cases of visual impairment in Parintins are either preventable or treatable, and public health initiatives should target cataract surgical services and refraction with spectacle provision.