Rupert Bourne|Brendan Dineen|Deen Mohammed Noorul Huq|Syed Modasser Ali|Gordon Johnson
Correction of Refractive Error in the Adult Population of Bangladesh: Meeting the Unmet Need
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust|University College London|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
purpose assess extent uncorrected refractive error associated factors bangladesh suggest ways need met methods nationally representative sample 12782 adults 30 years age selected 11624 subjects underwent demographic interview visual acuity logarithm minimum angle resolution logmar measurement automated refraction optic disc examination subjects visual acuity less 612 either eye also corrected refraction measurement cataract grading dilated retinal examination results 11624 subjects examined 2469 221 myopes less 05 2308 206 hyperopes 05 spectacle coverage percentage calculated met needmet need unmet need 100 252 405 using 612 618 visual acuity cutoffs respectively higher men urban inhabitants older subjects literate highly educated likely wear spectacles however spectacle wearers 81 inadequate correction 1142 subjects would benefit spectacles 827 724 would suitable offtheshelf spectacles subjects without spectacles less 612 better eye n 835 would achieve 612 better correction unmet need extrapolation national population yields estimate 15 million 67 adult men 18 million 92 women unmet need refractive correction conclusions bangladesh low spectacle coverage large unmet need survey identified risk groups particular women living rural areas description availability refractive services suggests areas improvement eg offtheshelf spectacles may enable bangladesh achieve goals world health organizations vision 2020 initiative