Population-based Assessment of Vision Impairment in the Elderly Population in Telangana State in India - Policy Implications for Eye Health Programmes.

PURPOSE To investigate the prevalence, causes and risk factors for vision impairment (VI) among the elderly population in Telangana State, India. METHODS A population-based cross-sectional study were conducted in four districts. All participants had eye examinations including visual acuity assessment for distance and near, anterior segment examination and non-mydriatic fundus imaging by trained personnel. VI was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better eye. Individuals aged ≥60 years were considered as elderly. RESULTS In total, 11,238/12,150 (92.5%) individuals aged ≥40 years were examined. Of this, the dataset of 3,640 individuals (32.4%) elderly participants was used for analysis. Among the 3,640 participants, 53.1% were women and 78.1% had no education. The mean age of the participants was 67.8 years (standard deviation: 7 years; range: 60 to 102 years). The age and gender-adjusted prevalence of VI was 32.1% (95% CI: 29.5-34.8). On multivariable analysis, the odds of VI was significantly higher in older age groups, and among those with no education. Gender and district of residence were not associated with the prevalence of VI. Cataract (54.8%) was the leading cause of VI followed by uncorrected refractive errors (37.6%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE VI was common and largely avoidable in the elderly population in Telangana state in India. Elderly centric eye care including screening for vision loss, provision of cataract surgery and spectacles can be used as strategies to address VI in the elderly.