Affiliation:
1. Department of Optometry and Vision Science, CL Gupta Eye Institute, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India,
2. Department of Clinical and Public Health Research, CL Gupta Eye Institute, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Abstract
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to determine the hospital-based prevalence and major causes of visual impairment in patients attending the low-vision clinic of a tertiary eye institute.
Materials and Methods:
This study was a retrospective non-intervention hospital-based study. Clinical records of visually impaired patients presented to the department of low vision from February 2017 to December 2021 were retrieved. Blindness has been defined as the best-corrected distance visual acuity of <3/60 and/or <10° visual field in the better eye. Low vision was defined as a best-corrected distance visual acuity of <6/18 but equal to or better than 3/60 in the better eye. The presenting visual acuity, causes of low vision and blindness, and prescribed low-vision devices were recorded and analyzed to determine the prevalence and major causes of visual impairment.
Results:
Among 414 visually impaired patients, the prevalence of low vision and blindness was 52.9% (n = 219) and 47.1% (n = 195), respectively. Retinitis pigmentosa (n = 57, 13.8%) and glaucoma (n = 43, 10.4%) were the major causes of low vision; however, glaucoma (n = 55, 13.3%) and cortical visual impairment (CVI) (n = 37, 8.9%) were the major causes of blindness. A total of 229 low-vision devices were dispensed, of them 166 (40.1%) were distance and 63 (15.1%) were near devices.
Conclusion:
The hospital-based prevalence of low-vision patients was more as compared to blindness. The major causes of visual impairment were retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and CVI. A comprehensive approach to the causes of low vision and low-vision services is needed to reduce the burden of visual impairment in the country.