A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Visual Impairment in West Godavari and Krishna Districts in Andhra Pradesh: Akividu Visual Impairment Study (AVIS)

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To report the prevalence and causes of visual impairment (VI) among those aged ≥40 years in West Godavari and Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Methods

Trained teams visited the households in the selected clusters and conducted eye examinations. Presenting visual acuity (PVA) was assessed for distance and near. Torchlight examination was conducted to assess the anterior segment. Non-mydriatic retinal images were also obtained. VI was defined as PVA worse than 6/18 in the better eye. It included Moderate VI (PVA worse than 6/18 to 6/60), Severe VI (PVA worse than 6/60 to 3/60) and Blindness (PVA worse than 3/60). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the risk factors for VI.

Results

In total, 2587/3000 (86.2%) participants were examined. Of this, 1406 (54.4%) were women and 1224 (47.3%) had no education. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of VI was 12.8% (95% CI: 11.5–14.1). Compared to the 40–49-year age group, the odds of having VI among those aged 50–59 years, 60–69 years and ≥70 years were 2.93 (95% CI: 1.91–4.52), 6.53 (95% CI: 4.31–9.91) and 17.45 (95% CI: 11.50–26.46), respectively. Those respondents who had no education had a higher odds (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.34–2.23) of VI compared to those who were educated. Cataract (62.4%) and uncorrected refractive errors (29.8%) were the leading causes of VI. Over 90% of the VI was due to avoidable causes.

Conclusion

VI is a major public health challenge in Andhra Pradesh. Over 90% of this burden is avoidable and can be eliminated by low-cost interventions such as spectacles and cataract surgery.

KEYWORDS:

• Cataract
• uncorrected refractive errors
• rapid assessment of visual impairment
• Andhra Pradesh

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the volunteers for their participation in the study. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Kolakaluri Praveen Kumar and Seelam Siva Nagaraju (vision technicians) in data collection. Muni Rajya Lakshmi is acknowledged for support in data management. The authors also thank Ms. Neha Hassija for her language inputs on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation.