Posters

Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment (RAVI) survey in rural Pune district of Maharashtra

Poster Details

First Author: K.Dole INDIA

Co Author(s):    R. Agashe   M. Deshpande                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To determine the prevalence of visual impairment including Uncorrected Refractive Errors, Presbyopia and Cataract in rural areas of Pune district of Maharashtra by doing a Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment (RAVI) Survey, and to assess the barriers to eye care services

Setting:

H.V.Desai Eye Hospital Pune, India *Andrea has rest of abstract, exceeded 100 words **Andrea has rest of abstract, exceeded 100 words

Methods:

*This rapid assessment survey was conducted between May 2013 and August 2013. A total of 1650 participants above the age of 40 years were covered in 33 clusters of 50 individuals each. Informed, verbal consent was taken. Distance visual acuity (VA) was measured with a Snellen chart with tumbling "E" optotype. Unaided (aided, if the subject was using spectacles) and pinhole visual acuity was recorded of both eyes separately. Near vision was assessed in all subjects using N notation near vision chart at their customary working distance (usual range 33-35 cm) binocularly

Results:

**Amongst the enumerated, 53.4% were males while 46.6 % of the examined were females. 38.2% of the participants were uneducated. The prevalence of blindness (vision<3/60 in the better eye-presenting vision-WHO) among those aged 50 years and over was 2.5% (95% CI; 1.7-3.3). Severe visual impairment (SVI) was 7.6% (95% CI; 6.3 – 8.9) and moderate visual impairment was 18.6% (95% CI; 16.7 – 20.5). The principle cause of presenting vision < 6/18 in the better eye was cataract (47.9%), refractive errors (46.4%), posterior segment disorders (3.3%), surgery related complications (1.4%), corneal opacity (0.6%) and uncorrected aphakia (0.4%).

Conclusions:

There is a need to provide better and more easily accessible eye care services at the village level. . Improving the existing infrastructure, better training of available manpower and recruitment of more manpower, provision of affordable yet durable spectacles at or near village level, improving the facilities for cataract surgeries should be the key priorities. There needs to be an increase in the awareness in the rural population, of the visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive errors/presbyopia, and the loss of quality of life due to it.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE