Jenchitr Watanee, Pongprayoon Chalao, Sothornwit Nisa, Choosri Pongpuck, Yenjitr Chawewan, Tapunya Mongkhol
Department of Ophthalmology, Priest Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2008;91 Suppl 1:S73-80.
Early detection and treatment of eye diseases is important to minimize visual morbidity and permanent visual loss in general and priests' population.
To evaluate eye health status, visual acuity and eye diseases of the priests and novices, to estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment, and to provide eye health education.
Between May 2006 and March 2007, the priests and novices in selected village (stratified population cluster random sampling) of 22 provinces in The First National Survey of Blindness and Visual Impairment Program in Thailand (TVIP) had their visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measured and eye examined by ophthalmic nurses. An ophthalmologist examined the anterior and posterior segment and took fundus pictures.
Two hundred sixty eight priests and novices were examined. Their age ranged between 12 and 88 years with a mean of 48.5 years. Most priests and novices had normal vision (20/20-20/40 - 67.54%). No priest and novices had bilateral blindness. Almost half (48.13%) had eyeglasses and 2.24% had bilateral low vision. Unilateral low vision and unilateral blindness were 3.73% and 3.36%. One eye blindness and one eye low vision was only 0.37%. Refractive error was the leading cause of visual impairment (22.39%), followed by cataract (17.54%), glaucoma (5.97%), vitreo-retinal diseases (1.49%), and glaucoma suspected (occludable angle and ocular hypertension) (3.35%). Fifty five priests (20.52%) were referred for further investigation and treatment.
Because the mean age of the priests and novices in this survey was only 48.5 years, the prevalence of visual impairment was low. Most of the cases were avoidable or preventable. The implementation of an effective screening program and access to eye treatment with standard of care remains a priority for the priests in rural areas. For sustainable development, eye health education must be promoted.
眼病的早期发现和治疗对于将总体人群尤其是神职人员的视觉发病率和永久性视力丧失降至最低至关重要。
评估神职人员和见习神职人员的眼部健康状况、视力和眼病，估计视力损害的患病率和原因，并提供眼部健康教育。
在泰国全国首次盲症和视力损害调查项目（TVIP）的22个省份的选定村庄（分层整群随机抽样）中，2006年5月至2007年3月期间，由眼科护士为神职人员和见习神职人员测量视力（VA）和眼压（IOP）并进行眼部检查。眼科医生检查眼前段和后段并拍摄眼底照片。
共检查了268名神职人员和见习神职人员。他们的年龄在12岁至88岁之间，平均年龄为48.5岁。大多数神职人员和见习神职人员视力正常（20/20 - 20/40 - 67.54%）。没有神职人员和见习神职人员双眼失明。近一半（48.13%）佩戴眼镜，2.24%为双眼低视力。单眼低视力和单眼失明分别为3.73%和3.36%。一眼失明和一眼低视力仅为0.37%。屈光不正为视力损害的主要原因（22.39%），其次是白内障（17.54%）、青光眼（5.97%）、玻璃体视网膜疾病（1.49%）以及疑似青光眼（房角关闭和高眼压）（3.35%）。55名神职人员（20.52%）被转诊进行进一步检查和治疗。
由于本次调查中神职人员和见习神职人员的平均年龄仅为48.5岁，视力损害患病率较低。大多数病例是可避免或可预防的。实施有效的筛查项目以及获得符合医疗标准的眼部治疗仍然是农村地区神职人员的首要任务。为实现可持续发展，必须推广眼部健康教育。
