Journal Article
[National survey of blindness and avoidable visual impairment in Argentina, 2013]
Fecha
2015Autor
Barrenechea R
de la Fuente I
Plaza RG
Flores N
Segovia L
Villagomez Z
Camarero EE
Zepeda-Romero LC
Lansingh VC
Limburg H
Silva JC
Institución
Resumen
OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of blindness and avoidable visual impairment in Argentina, its causes, the coverage of cataract surgery, and the barriers that hinder access to these services. METHODS: Cross-sectional population study conducted between May and November 2013 using the standard methodology for rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB), with a random cluster sampling of 50 people aged 50 years or more, -representative of the entire country. Participants' visual acuity (VA) was measured and the lens and posterior pole were examined by direct ophthalmoscopy. An assessment was made of the causes of having VA 20/60. The main barriers to receiving this treatment were fear of the surgical procedure or of a poor result (34.9%), the cost (30.2%), and not having access to the treatment (16.3%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a low prevalence of blindness in the studied population and cataract is the main cause of blindness and severe visual impairment. Efforts should continue to extend coverage of cataract surgery, enhance preoperative evaluation, improve calculations of the intraocular lenses that patients need, and correct post-operative refractive errors with greater precision.