[An epidemiological survey and treatment of blindness in Kaipin County of Guangdong Province].

An epidemiological survey of blindness was carried out in Kaipin County of Guangdong Province during October 1989 to May 1990, by stratified random cluster sampling. The sample population was 11,588, and the rate of blindness was 0.216%. The prevalence of blindness in persons aged 60 years and over was 48 times those of all other age groups combined. Since cataract accounted for 64% of the total blind cases, hence it was the key objective for surgical restoration of vision. Among 109 patients who were operated on for cataract, 83 cases were re-examined a half year later, and 78 cases (94%) had vision over 0.05.