RAPID ASSESSMENT OF AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS IN GAZIPUR, KISHOREGANJ & COX’S BAZAR DISTRICTS, BANGLADESH

Dr. M. Muhit¹
1: Child Sight Foundation (CSF)

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ABSTRACT

Despite high Cataract Surgical Coverage both in Cox’s Bazar, Gazipur and Kishoreganj, cataract become apparent as the major cause of blindness. Needs assessment of the districts need to be incorporated to the survey to know the existing eye-care facilities and the cataract surgical rate. Treatable blindness requires a comprehensive ophthalmologic approach. Visual outcome after cataract surgery is relatively poor. So, it can be considered as a big concern in reducing blindness. Implementing a monitoring system for cataract surgical results could sensitize surgeons to quality control, thereby improving outcomes after surgery. Efforts in raising awareness for avoidable causes of blindness has created substantial impact on people since “unaware of treatment” did not appear as the major barrier in these three districts. However, lack of uptake of surgical treatment due to financial constraints, remains the major reason for cataract still being the principal cause of avoidable blindness.

GAZIPUR

• The all-age prevalence of blindness for Gazipur is estimated to be 0.39%.
• The all-age magnitude of blindness for Gazipur is estimated to be 9,130 people out of a population of 2.36 million.
• Avoidable causes of blindness (operated and unoperated cataract, refractive error and corneal scar) accounted for 71.7% of blindness, 77.6% of severe visual impairment and 94.6% of visual impairment.
• Cataract (69.6%) and sequelae related to cataract extraction (4.6%) accounted for 78.4% of all causes of bilateral blindness.
• Posterior segment disease (including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration) is responsible for 28.3% of bilateral blindness.
• 73.8% of people with bilateral cataract VA<3/60 had had surgery and 49.3% at VA<6/18.

KISHOREGANJ

• The all-age prevalence of blindness for Kishoreganj is estimated to be 0.34%.
• The all-age magnitude of blindness for Kishoreganj is estimated to be 9,785 people out of a population of 2.85 million.
• Avoidable causes of blindness (operated and unoperated cataract, refractive error and corneal scar) accounted for 82.4% of blindness, 90.8% of severe visual impairment and 94.6% of visual impairment.
• Cataract (70.6%) and sequelae related to cataract extraction (5.3%) accounted for 57.9% of all causes of bilateral blindness.
• Posterior segment disease (including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration) is responsible for 17.6% of bilateral blindness.
• 69.3% of people with bilateral cataract VA<3/60 had had surgery and 33.5% at VA<6/18.

COX’S BAZAR

• The all-age prevalence of blindness for Cox’s Bazar is estimated to be 0.46%.
• The all-age magnitude of blindness for Cox’s Bazar is estimated to be 9,464 people out of a population of 1.95 million.
• Avoidable causes of blindness (operated and un-operated cataract, refractive error and corneal scar) accounted for 92.2% of blindness, 96.9% of severe visual impairment and 99.7% of visual impairment.
• Cataract (76.6%) and sequelae related to cataract extraction (5.3%) accounted for 57.9% of all causes of bilateral blindness.
• Posterior segment disease (including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration) is responsible for 7.8% of bilateral blindness.
• 73.3% of people with bilateral cataract VA<3/60 had had surgery and 49.7% at VA<6/18.

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Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in Gazipur, Kishoreganj & Cox’s Bazar Districts, Bangladesh (PDF 2.4MB)

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