Hyderabad Ocular Morbidity in Elderly Study (HOMES) - Rationale, Study Design and Methodology.

Purpose: To describe the study design, interobserver variability of the questionnaires and clinical procedures of Hyderabad Ocular Morbidity in Elderly Study (HOMES) designed to, (a) to investigate the prevalence, causes and risk factors for visual impairment, and (b) to assess the impact of dispensing spectacles and cataract surgery on visual functions, fear of falls (FOF) and depression among the elderly in India.Methods: Individuals aged ≥60 years are considered elderly. The non-clinical protocol was administered by two trained investigators and included collection of personal, sociodemographic information, ocular and systemic history, Indian Visual Function Questionnaire (IND-VFQ33), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire, Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening (HHIE), Short Falls Efficacy Scale (SFES) questionnaire. The eye examination was conducted by a trained optometrist and vision technicians in clinics set-up in the homes and included visual acuity (VA) assessment for distance and near, anterior segment examination and fundus examination, and imaging. The reliability assessments were carried out among 138 participants.Result: The intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficients for MMSE, PHQ9, HHIE, SFES was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.81), 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54-0.77), 0.63 (95% CI: 0.48-0.74) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.58-0.79) respectively. The ICC for INDVFQ domains ranged from 0.66 (95% CI: 0.55-0.74) for Psychosocial Impact to 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.91) for activity limitation. The ICC for VA was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92-0.96).Conclusion: All questionnaires demonstrated acceptable reliability and can be applied in the main study. HOMES is expected to provide data that will help plan strategies to contribute towards 'healthy aging' in India.

Seeing you through London 2012: eye care at the Olympics.

BACKGROUND: Provision of eye care services for competitors and their support teams has become an integral part of the modern Olympic Games. AIM: To describe the organisation of the eye clinic at London 2012 over a 4-week period and provide outline audit data. METHODS: The clinic employed multidisciplinary eye care professionals and utilised state-of-the-art instrumentation to provide the highest level of eye care. RESULTS: A total of 1406 patients from 154 countries attended the clinic over the Olympic Games, of which, 276 were competitors. All individuals received a comprehensive refractive and ocular health examination. Minor ocular injuries, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration were among the conditions detected and managed. Most patients attended the clinic to have their refractive status checked: 973 spectacles and 50 pairs of contact lenses were dispensed. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that this account of the provision of eye care at London 2012 will assist with the planning of this service at future events.

Spectacle dispensing in Timor-Leste: tiered-pricing, cross-subsidization and financial viability.

PURPOSE: To examine the financial viability of the Timor-Leste National Spectacle Program as it increases spectacle availability, affordability and uptake, particularly for Timor's poor. METHODS: In rural areas, three models of ready-made spectacles were dispensed according to a tiered pricing structure of US$3.00, 1.00, 0.10 and 0.00. In addition, custom-made spectacles were available in the capital, Dili. Spectacle costs, dispensing data and income for the National Spectacle Program for 18 months from March 2007 were analyzed. RESULTS: Rural services dispensed 3415 readymade spectacles: 47.1% to women, and 51.4% at subsidized prices, being 39.8% at US$0.10 and 11.6% free. A profit of US$1,529 was generated, mainly from the sale of US$3.00 spectacles. Women (odds ratio, OR, 1.3, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.1-1.4) and consumers aged ≥65 years (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.7-2.6) were more likely to receive subsidized spectacles. Urban services dispensed 2768 spectacles; mostly US$3.00 readymade (52.8%) and custom-made single vision (29.6%) units. Custom-made spectacles accounted for 36.7% of dispensing, but 73.1% of the US$12,264 urban profit. The combined rural and urban profit covered all rural costs, leaving US$2,200 to meet administration and other urban expenses. CONCLUSION: It is instructive and encouraging that a national spectacle dispensing program in one of the ten poorest countries of the world can use tiered-pricing based on willingness-to-pay information to cover spectacle stock replacement costs and produce profit, while using cross-subsidization to provide spectacles to the poor.

Addressing refractive error visual impairment: volunteer organisations' alignment with Vision 2020 and public health principles.

BACKGROUND: Eye care professionals have been making short visits to developing countries for decades in an effort to reduce visual impairment caused by refractive error. A 2006 survey revealed that volunteer organisations were not working within the Vision 2020 framework. Recommendations were made for volunteer organisations that would better align their work with accepted Vision 2020 and public health principles. METHODS: This study re-evaluates the alignment of volunteer organisations with Vision 2020 and public health principles. To determine their philosophies and methods, a web-based survey was sent to 89 volunteer organisations identified from an internet search. RESULTS: The response rate was 48 per cent. Many (70.7 per cent) organisations exclusively mention direct service provision in their statement of purpose, often provided by student volunteers (75.6 per cent). A few (19.5 per cent) provide short training in refraction, not necessarily following best principles. The majority (82.1 per cent) dispenses recycled spectacles and many use medications not on national essential drug lists. Few attempt to follow aid effectiveness principles with only 26.8 per cent stating they follow Vision 2020 country plans. Overall, as in 2006, the work of these organisations is largely not in alignment with Vision 2020 and public health principles. CONCLUSION: Organisations interested in decreasing visual impairment due to refractive error in the developing world are encouraged to transition to organisations that not only recognise but also implement public health principles. This should include reprioritisation of their work to developing human resources and infrastructure, determining the burden and causes of disease, assisting in the training of mid-level personnel and providing professional and community education, collaborating via partnerships, discontinuing the use of recycled spectacles and inappropriate medications, and evaluating their outcomes. Following these recommendations as well as creating a better alignment with public health principles in general will increase the likelihood that their programs will be effective in decreasing visual impairment due to refractive error in the developing world.

The rationale for shifting from a voluntary clinical approach to a public health approach in addressing refractive errors.

Millions of people need eyeglasses and do not have them. Assuming that the average pair of eyeglasses has an effective life span of two to five years, an additional 60 to 150 million spectacles would be needed each year for the estimated 303 million individuals who currently need correction. Optometrists are engaged in a variety of capacities in an attempt to address the significant public health problem of uncorrected refractive error. One popular method used by many voluntary optometry-led organisations is to provide direct clinical services to individual patients in developing countries. Considerable manpower, materials, money and logistical resources are used in conducting these short-term missions, yet scarce evidence exists regarding their cost effectiveness or the efficacy and long-term impact of these interventions. The provision of direct clinical services by most foreign volunteers does not directly build local capacity and may hinder development of sustainable local services. Adopting public health approaches will enable volunteer provider organisations to dramatically increase their program effectiveness and output, while developing local capacities in a sustainable way. These approaches should include: 1. Following the national strategy for blindness prevention as determined by the Ministry of Health and forming partnerships with relevant local, national and international organisations. 2. Using need-based criteria to target programs more efficiently. 3. Developing sustainable services via local capacity building. 4. Monitoring, evaluating and using evidence to guide programs. By using these approaches, a larger contribution will be made by the volunteer organisations in addressing the unmet need for refractive correction.

Programa Nacional de JUNAEB en Salud Escolar Oftalmológica en Chile: análisis de sus resultados / Chilean National Program of Ophthalmologic School Health by JUNAEB: outcome analysis

Propósito: Evaluar programa para conocer epidemiología y analizar cumplimiento de normas receta de lentes. Método: Análisis estadístico de atenciones y recetas de lente durante 2003. Resultados: Existen 2.413.176 beneficiarios, refiriendo el profesor 163.223 (6,76 por ciento). Después screening, se realizaron 57.415 (2,38 por ciento) consultas nuevas, recetando lentes al 58,60 por ciento y 19,2 por ciento sanos, y 99.131 se realizaron 57.415 (2,38 por ciento) consultas nuevas, recetando lentes al 58,60 por ciento y 19,2 por ciento sanos, y 99.131 (4,11 por ciento) controles, prescribiendo lentes al 78,9 por ciento. Se acreditaron 102 oftalmólogos. Se analizan 1.736 lentes, 88,9 por ciento astigmatismo (40 por ciento miopes, 37 por ciento hipermetrópico y 12 por ciento mixtos) y 11,1 por ciento esféricos. Conclusiones: Una alianza entre JUNAEB y Sociedad Chilena de Oftalmología permitió mejorar eficiencia con screening y normas receta de lentes, elaborando programas para visión subnormal, catarata y estrabismo.

Planes pilotos de atención oftalmológica en el nivel primario: validación del programa nacional de salud ocular de la Sociedad Chilena de Oftalmología / Pilot plans of ophthalmologic attention in primary level: validation of National Program of Ocular Health proposed by Chilean Society of Ophthalmology

Propósito: Evaluar el Programa Nacional de Salud Ocular propuesto por la Sociedad Chilena de Oftalmología a nivel primario de atención. Método: Se realizó un tamizaje a 2.029 pacientes en edades de baja cobertura (menor de 6 años) o de mayor riesgo de ceguera (mayor de 45 años) en los consultorios Tucapel (T), Concepción y Cristo Vive (CV), Santiago. Los pacientes con visión menor a 20/40, presión ocular mayor de 24 mm y/o cualquier sospecha de patología asociada se refiere al oftalmólogo, quien prescribe lentes, medicamentos a los refiere a nivel secundario de atención para realizar exámenes y/o tratamientos más específicos. Resultados: Se logró una resolución en el nivel primario de un 73 por ciento. Un 24 por ciento (T) y el 27 por ciento (CV) de los pacientes tenían sólo presbicia. Sólo el 27 por ciento (T) y el 20 por ciento (CV) de los pacientes fueron derivados para exámenes o tratamiento al nivel superior. Conclusiones: Se demostró una nueva estrategia que permite mejorar la atención oftalmológica de la población. Una atención integral da una gran satisfacción al paciente, que aumenta con la alta resolución lograda. También detecta, trata y/o deriva las patologías de alto riesgo de ceguera optimizando su manejo al priorizar su derivación al nivel secundario. El exitoso resultado de este piloto justifica el desarrollo de una red de atención oftalmológica a nivel nacional.