Prevalence and Causes of Avoidable Blindness in Subjects Over 50 Years of Age in Honduras.

Purpose: To describe the prevalence and causes of avoidable blindness in people aged 50 and over in the areas of influence of doctors in social service during the years 2018-2019. Methods: This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with analysis of association of variables, was conducted on patients 50 years and older at the national level, selected under simple random sampling, where sociodemographic variables, background, and clinical characteristics were studied. An ophthalmological clinical examination was performed with prior informed consent, and the information was processed and analyzed using Epi Info 7.2 statistical package and SPSS version 25. Results: Overall, 7992 people were evaluated, with a mean age of 62 years; 60.8% (4861) were women and 39.2% (3131) were men. The prevalence of blindness for both eyes was 4.5% (356/7992, 95% CI: 4.1-5.1%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of severe and moderate visual impairment was 1.5% (118/127) and 12.9% (1029)/12.6% (1004) for the right and left eyes, respectively. The main causes of blindness were cataract, refractive error, and glaucoma. Conclusion: The prevalence of avoidable blindness found in the study was higher than expected and the respective causes were consistent with previous studies. Consequently, it is recommended to implement health policies aimed at the prevention and management of avoidable blindness.

Validez del tamizaje de agudeza visual realizado por maestros de escuelas primarias / Validity of visual acuity screening by elementary school teachers

Marco conceptual:El manejo y detección de ametropías en la niñez es multidisciplinario. Los programas de tamizaje incluyen maestros, pediatras, oftalmólogos y optometristas, con el fin de corregir y prevenir la ambliopía. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del tamizaje realizado por maestros que fueron capacitados en la toma de agudeza visual. Metodología: Se realizó estudio de concordancia en donde el universo lo constituyeron 33 maestros de las Escuelas primarias República de Nicaragua, Reino de los Países Bajos y República de Paraguay del sector público del municipio del Distrito Central de Honduras.El estudio se llevó a cabo en el año lectivo 2015 entre los meses de mayo a julio. Se evaluaron 840 estudiantes matriculados de primero a sexto grado. La medición de la agudeza visual se realizó utilizando la Cartilla Snellen, tomando como punto de corte mediciones menores a 20/30 en el mejor ojo. Los estudiantes con dicha agudeza visual fueron examinados por los médicos residentes cuya evaluación fue considerada el gold estándar del estudio para determinar la sensibilidad y especificidad de las mediciones realizadas por los maestros. Resultados: La sensibilidad y especificidad del tamizaje ejecutado por los maestros fue de 100% y 74% respectivamente. El resultado de índice de Kappa de Cohen fue de 0.65. Conclusiones: los resultados del presente estudio indican que el tamizaje de agudeza visual realizado por los maestros presenta validez aceptable para identificar casos positivos de disminución de agudeza visual y que es mejor elegir una prueba muy sensible si se prefiere obtener falsos positivos en lugar de falsos negativos...(AU)

Encuesta nacional de ceguera y deficiencia visual evitables en Honduras / National survey of blindness and avoidable visual impairment in Honduras

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de ceguera y deficiencia visual en Honduras, sus causas y la respuesta que los servicios de salud están dando a la creciente demanda. MÉTODOS: Estudio poblacional transversal realizado entre junio y diciembre de 2013 mediante la metodología estándar de evaluación rápida de ceguera evitable. Se realizó un muestreo aleatorio en 63 conglomerados de 50 personas de 50 años o más, representativo de todo el país. Se evaluó la agudeza visual (AV) mediante una cartilla de Snellen y el estado del cristalino y del polo posterior por oftalmoscopía directa. Se calculó la cobertura de cirugía de catarata y se evaluó su calidad, las causas de tener AV < 20/60 y las barreras para acceder al tratamiento quirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Se examinaron 2 999 personas (95,2% del total previsto). La prevalencia de ceguera fue de 1,9% (intervalo de confianza de 95%: 1,4-2,4%) y 82,2% de esos casos era evitable. La catarata no operada fue la causa principal de ceguera (59,2%), seguida del glaucoma (21,1%). Los errores de refracción no corregidos fueron la principal causa de deficiencia visual, tanto severa (19,7%) como moderada (58,6%). La cobertura de cirugía de catarata fue de 75,2%. De los ojos operados de catarata, 62,5% alcanzó una AV ≥ 20/60 con la corrección disponible. Las principales barreras para someterse a la cirugía de catarata fueron el costo (27,7%) y la falta de disponibilidad o de acceso geográfico al tratamiento (24,6%). CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de ceguera y deficiencia visual en Honduras es similar a la de otros países latinoamericanos. Mejorar la capacidad resolutiva de los servicios oftalmológicos, especialmente de cirugía de catarata, desarrollar los servicios ópticos y la atención ocular incorporada en la atención primaria en salud, podrían resolver el 67% de los casos de ceguera.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in Honduras, its causes and the response by the health services to growing demand. METHODS: A cross-sectional population study was conducted between June and December 2013 using the standard methodology of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness. A random sample survey was done in 63 clusters of 50 individuals aged ≥ 50, representative of the country as a whole. Visual acuity (VA) was assessed using a Snellen eye chart, and the condition of the lens and posterior pole was examined by direct ophthalmoscopy. Cataract surgical coverage was calculated and an assessment made of its quality, the causes of VA < 20/60 and the barriers to accessing surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 2 999 people were examined (95.2% of the forecast total). Blindness prevalence was 1.9% (confidence interval of 95%: 1.4-2.4%) and 82.2% of these cases were avoidable. The main causes of blindness were unoperated cataracts (59.2%) and glaucoma (21.1%). Uncorrected refraction error was the main cause of severe (19.7%) and moderate (58.6%) visual impairment. Cataract surgical coverage was 75.2%. 62.5% of the eyes operated for cataracts achieved a VA > 20/60 with available correction. The main barriers against cataract surgery were cost (27.7%) and the lack of availability or difficulty of geographical access to the treatment (24.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in Honduras is similar to that of other Latin American countries. 67% of cases of blindness could be resolved by improving the response capacity of the ophthalmological services, especially of cataract surgery, improving optician services and incorporating eye care in primary health care.

[National survey of blindness and avoidable visual impairment in Honduras]. / Encuesta nacional de ceguera y deficiencia visual evitables en Honduras.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in Honduras, its causes and the response by the health services to growing demand. METHODS: A cross-sectional population study was conducted between June and December 2013 using the standard methodology of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness. A random sample survey was done in 63 clusters of 50 individuals aged ≥ 50, representative of the country as a whole. Visual acuity (VA) was assessed using a Snellen eye chart, and the condition of the lens and posterior pole was examined by direct ophthalmoscopy. Cataract surgical coverage was calculated and an assessment made of its quality, the causes of VA < 20/60 and the barriers to accessing surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 2 999 people were examined (95.2% of the forecast total). Blindness prevalence was 1.9% (confidence interval of 95%: 1.4-2.4%) and 82.2% of these cases were avoidable. The main causes of blindness were unoperated cataracts (59.2%) and glaucoma (21.1%). Uncorrected refraction error was the main cause of severe (19.7%) and moderate (58.6%) visual impairment. Cataract surgical coverage was 75.2%. 62.5% of the eyes operated for cataracts achieved a VA > 20/60 with available correction. The main barriers against cataract surgery were cost (27.7%) and the lack of availability or difficulty of geographical access to the treatment (24.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in Honduras is similar to that of other Latin American countries. 67% of cases of blindness could be resolved by improving the response capacity of the ophthalmological services, especially of cataract surgery, improving optician services and incorporating eye care in primary health care.