The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 23 Youzheng Street, Harbin, China.
Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2012 Jul;40(5):484-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2011.02682.x. Epub 2011 Nov 21.
The prevalence of blind individuals in the north of China is unknown. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision in rural areas in Heilongjiang province of China in 2008-2009.
Cross-sectional study.
A cluster random sampling method was used to recruit participants of all ages in rural areas of Heilongjiang.
Trained professionals performed interviews and clinical examinations to measure visual acuity. The relationships between blindness or low vision and age, gender and education level were analysed.
The main outcome measure was prevalence rates of bilateral blindness and bilateral low vision.
Of the 11 787 subjects, 10 384 (88.1%) were surveyed. The overall age-adjusted prevalence rates were 0.7% (95% confidence interval: 0.5-0.8%) for bilateral blindness and 1.7% (95% confidence interval: 1.4-1.9%) for bilateral low vision. The prevalence rates of blindness and low vision were higher in the elderly and uneducated population (P < 0.05). The main causes for blindness and low vision were cataracts (44.1 and 46.0%, respectively) and refractive errors (17.7 and 42.5%, respectively).
Blindness and low vision are highly prevalent among people with cataracts and refractive errors. Eye care planning must focus on treating the avoidable and curable forms of blindness.
中国北方盲人的患病率尚不清楚。本研究旨在调查 2008-2009 年中国黑龙江省农村地区盲和低视力的患病率及其原因。
横断面研究。
采用整群随机抽样方法，招募黑龙江省农村地区各年龄段的参与者。
经过培训的专业人员进行访谈和临床检查，以测量视力。分析盲和低视力与年龄、性别和教育水平的关系。
主要观察指标为双眼盲和双眼低视力的患病率。
在 11787 名受试者中，有 10384 名（88.1%）接受了调查。经年龄调整后，双眼盲的总患病率为 0.7%（95%置信区间：0.5-0.8%），双眼低视力的总患病率为 1.7%（95%置信区间：1.4-1.9%）。老年人和未受教育者的盲和低视力患病率较高（P<0.05）。盲和低视力的主要原因是白内障（分别为 44.1%和 46.0%）和屈光不正（分别为 17.7%和 42.5%）。
白内障和屈光不正导致的盲和低视力患病率较高。眼保健规划必须侧重于治疗可避免和可治愈的致盲眼病。
