Frequency of presenting visual acuity and visual impairment in Chinese college students

Risk of visual impairment according to the comorbidity of systemic and ocular diseases

PURPOSE

To investigate the risk of visual impairment (VI) based on the presence or absence of four diseases: hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODS

This retrospective population-based study included 1,000,000 randomly selected participants from the National Health Checkup Program database between 2015 and 2016. VI was defined as a presenting visual acuity ≤ 0.5 in the better eye. The participants were divided into 12 groups according to the presence or absence of disease. Adjusting for age and sex, the risk of VI in each disease group was analyzed and compared with the others.

RESULTS

Among the 1,000,000 participants, 88,931 (8.89%) had VI. The odds ratios (ORs) of age, male sex, HTN, DM, glaucoma, and DR for VI were 1.06 (95% CI, 1.05-1.06), 0.52 (95% CI, 0.52-0.53), 1.11 (95% CI, 1.09-1.13), 1.07 (95% CI, 1.05-1.09), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.90-0.74), and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.25-1.34), respectively (all P < 0.001). The group with HTN, DM, glaucoma, and DR had the highest OR of 1.98 (P < 0.001) compared to the healthy group. HTN, DM, and DR were positively correlated with VI in all groups. Glaucoma was positively correlated in the group with DM and DR and in the group with HTN, DM, and DR (ORs 1.18, 1.11, all P < 0.05); however, it demonstrated a negative correlation in the other groups (ORs 0.85-0.93, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HTN, DM, and DR, either alone or in combination, increase the risk of VI. Glaucoma also increases the risk when combined with DR; however, it has a negative correlation with VI in the absence of DR. Periodic ophthalmologic examinations for glaucoma, which primarily affects the peripheral visual field and not central visual acuity, might help prevent VI caused by other diseases.

Diluting 2.5% Viscoadaptive Sodium Hyaluronate to Prevent Postoperative Intraocular Pressure Rise After Phacoemulsification: A Pilot Study

The most common complication with intraoperative viscoelastic use is an immediate elevation of intraocular pressure, particularly if the viscoelastic agent remains in the eye, which can cause serious effects. Complications may include severe ocular pain, corneal epithelial edema, and increased risk of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and retinal artery occlusion. This study aims to find an efficient and safe adjunctive method to decrease the incidence of postoperative intraocular pressure rise. When cohesive viscoelastic agents were unavailable due to the pandemic, we diluted Microvisc 2.5% sodium hyaluronate ophthalmic viscosurgical device by 50% prior to intraocular lens implantation. Twelve eyes are included in this study, which are divided into two groups. The study followed a double-blinded methodology in which the physician and the patient were unaware of what group they were in. The first group (seven patients, seven eyes) was treated using the diluted Microvisc 2.5%, and the second group (five patients, five eyes) was controlled with the undiluted Microvisc 2.5%. The primary variable was intraocular pressure, measured at four different timeline points (baseline, day 1, week 1, and month 1). We found that the technique used had easier irrigation and aspiration with minimal viscoelastic agent left in the bag, leading to a lower postoperative intraocular pressure spike. Analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and significance was noted between the two groups on postoperative day 1 (p=0.042). The analysis also included the populations' comorbidities (hypertension and diabetes) and postoperative outcomes (pain, corneal edema, and visual acuity).

Association of visual impairment with cognitive decline among older adults in Taiwan

This study investigated the association between visual impairment and cognitive decline among the elderly in Taiwan. The data were obtained from a government-sponsored, annual physical examination program for elderly citizens ≥ 65 years in Taipei City during 2005-2012. Distance presenting visual acuity was measured using the Snellen chart. Visual impairment was classified into low vision and blindness. The Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) was selected to measure cognitive decline. The confounding factors including age, sex, sociodemographic factors: living status, marital status, education level, health behaviors: smoking, alcohol consumption, betel nut chewing, and physical comorbidities: BMI, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol and triglyceride were collected for analysis. We recruited 105,208 participants and 4542 (4.3%) have abnormal SPMSQ. The abnormal SPMSQ had significantly higher prevalence of low vision (44.52% vs 18.79%) and blindness (8.89% vs 0.93%) compared with normal SPMSQ. The hazard ratios of abnormal SPMSQ in low vision and blindness were 2.34 (95% CI 2.17-2.52), and 5.13 (95% CI 4.50-5.85), after adjustment for confounders. In conclusion, visual impairment was independently and significantly associated with greater incident cognitive decline among elderly Asian people. Prevention of visual impairment may help to reduce the incidence of cognitive decline in the aged Asian population.

Visual impairment and its associated factors among medical and health sciences students at the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Visual impairment (VI) is a decreased ability to see things which is critical problem for health professionals and students to whom normal vision is essential for their daily activity. If it is not timely managed, visual impairment leads to physical, psychological, and socio-economic malfunctions to the victims and nation. Despite the above impacts, currently there is no study in Ethiopia on this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and its associated factors among Medical and Health Science students at the University of Gondar.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among Medical and Health Science students. After recruiting study participants using systematic random sampling technique, we applied pre-tested self-administered questionnaire for sociodemographic variables and also visual acuity measurement was performed using Snellen chart placed at a distance of 6 meters. Visual acuity tested separately for each eye and for both eyes in a well- illuminated area. Pinhole was used for those participants with a visual acuity of < 6/9. Participants with a presenting visual acuity of < 6/12 in the better eye were diagnosed as having visual impairment. Epi data version 3.1 and stata version 14 were used for data entry and statistical analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression was used, and the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported to declare the statistical significance and strength of association between VI and independent variables.

Results

A total of 654 students were screened for visual acuity. The prevalence of visual impairment was 12.5% (95% CI: 10.21, 15.31). Age above 25 years (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.26) and current alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.7, 5.00), were statistically significant factors of visual impairment.

Conclusion

The prevalence of visual impairment among medical and health science students was high. Age of study participant and current alcohol consumption were statically significant factors. This study warrants the routine screening of Medical and Health science students for visual impairment.