Mohammad Z. Jadoon|Brendan Dineen|Rupert Bourne|Shaheen P. Shah|Muhammad Asghar Khan|Gordon Johnson|Clare Gilbert|Mohammad Daud Khan
Prevalence of Blindness and Visual Impairment in Pakistan: The Pakistan National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
determine prevalence blindness visual impairment adults aged 30 years older pakistan assess sociodemographic risk factorsmultistage stratified ruralurban cluster random sampling probability proportionaltosize procedures used select nationally representative crosssectional sample adults 30 years age older subject interviewed visual acuity measured logmar logarithm minimum angle resolution underwent autorefraction biometry fundusoptic disc examination less 612 acuity either eye underwent detailed ophthalmic examination including corrected distance visual acuity measurement dilated ophthalmoscopya nationally representative sample 16507 adults 955 enumerated examined age genderstandardized prevalence blindness 27 95 confidence interval ci 2429 estimated 1140000 9620001330000 blind adults pakistan 2003 statistics blindness prevalence varied throughout country highest provinces punjab baluchistan lowest north west frontier province rural areas higher prevalence blindness urban areas 38 vs 25 p 0001 increasing age female significantly associated presenting visual acuity 660 odds ratio 25 95 ci 2327 13 95 ci 1115 respectively educational status also associated presenting visual acuity 660 subjects attended primary school 60 p 0001 less likely acuity 660 subjects never schoolthis comprehensive survey provides reliable estimates prevalence visual impairment blindness pakistan significant excess visual impairment found among elderly uneducated adjustment age differences women found significant excess severe visual impairment blindness regional variations prevalence blindness also identified