助视器提升低视力患者生活质量

目的：调查低视力助视器（LVAs）在提高低视力患者生活质量方面的有效性。方法：前瞻性临床研究。选取2017年1月至2018年2月在温州医科大学附属眼视光医院就诊的符合低视力诊断标准的患者55例，给患者验配远用、近用助视器。在低视力患者配戴LVAs前和配戴30 d后采用中文版低视力患者生活质量量表（CLVQOL）评估低视力患者的生活质量，问卷内容涉及远视力、移动和光感，心 理调节能力，阅读和精细工作能力及日常生活能力。对各组LVQOL评分结果进行配对t检验，对影 响因素进行回归分析。结果：55例低视力患者中，44例完成了基线和随访时的生活质量问卷调查。经过低视力助视器等辅助后，生活质量评分从77.8±19.0上升到82.3±22.5，差异具有统计学意义（t=4.56，P=0.001）。性别、识字率、学习状况和视力等因素不影响低视力患者生活质量。结论：低视力助视器可以提高不同年龄段、不同性别的低视力人群的生活质量。     

The Correlation between Caregiver's Knowledge of Vision and Its Impact on Seeking Vision Health Care for Their Children

Objective: To study the impact that the cognitive level and knowledge of vision has on parents seeking vision health services for their children. This can provide a scientific basis for effectively preventing and controlling poor vision in students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional investigation. The study was based on the survey data of 5 236 students from 252 rural primary schools in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the impact that varying knowledge andcognitive levels have on parents seeking vision health services for their children. Propensity matching was used to test the results for robustness. Results: Based on the overall sample of 5 236 students, the myopia rate among students in the sample area was as high as 46.31%, of which 74.54% of students had not undergone a vision exam. Of the 2 425 myopic students, only 15.09% wore eyeglasses. Parents had a big misunderstanding of vision problems. The correct answer rates for parents on visual health knowledge in the full sample and myopic samples were low, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that parental knowledge of vision health has a significant impact on seeking vision health services for their children. Some misunderstandings included the following: Myopia and its causes (OR=1.15, 95%CI: 1.00-1.33, P=0.043; OR=1.20, 95%CI: 1.03-1.41, P=0.023), wearing glasses will make vision worse (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.06-1.46, P=0.007), students should check their eyesight (OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.15-1.69, P=0.001) and students should not wear glasses (OR=1.05, 95%CI: 0.91-1.22, P<0.001). These misunderstandings have a significant effect on whether parents take their children for vision checkups. Parents know that myopia cannot see far away (OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.04-1.76, P=0.024) and that learning is affected if myopes do not wear glasses (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.16-2.05, P=0.003) but feel that primary school students should not wear glasses (OR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.23-2.10, P=0.001). All of these factors have a significant effect on whether or not children wear glasses. Conclusions: Poor eyesight among students in rural areas of China has become a serious problem because parents have big misunderstandings about vision problems. Since parents make decisions for their children, their perceptions and knowledge of vision health can influence their behavior in seeking vision services for their children.     

父母视力健康知识对子女寻求视力健康服务的影响

目的：通过研究父母视力知识的认知水平对其为子女寻求视力健康服务的影响,为有效防控学生视 力不良提供科学依据。方法：横断面调查研究。基于陕西省、甘肃省共252所农村小学5 236名学生 的调研数据,采用多元Logistic回归模型分析父母认知水平对子女寻求视力健康服务的影响,并采 用倾向匹配对结果进行稳健性检验。结果：从5 236个全样本学生看来,样本地区学生近视率高达 46.31%,其中74.54%的学生没有进行视力检查。在2 425个近视样本中,只有15.09%的学生配戴眼镜。 父母对视力问题的认知存在较大的误区,全样本和近视样本中父母对视力健康知识的正确回答率都 较低。多元Logistic分析结果显示父母视力健康知识的掌握情况对是否带子女进行视力检查和是否 给视力不良孩子配戴眼镜均存在显著影响：近视及其成因（OR=1.15,95%CI：1.00～1.33,P=0.043; OR=1.20,95%CI：1.03～1.41,P=0.023）、戴眼镜会使得视力越来越差（OR=1.23,95%CI：1.06～1.46, P=0.007）、学生应该经常检查视力（OR=1.40,95%CI：1.15～1.69,P=0.001）以及小学生不应该戴眼 镜（OR=1.05,95%CI：0.91～1.22,P<0.001）均对父母是否带孩子去检查眼睛具有显著的影响;父 母知道近视是看不清远处东西（OR=1.35,95%CI：1.04～1.76,P=0.024）、近视不戴眼镜会影响学习 （OR=1.54,95%CI：1.16～2.05,P=0.003）以及小学生不应该戴眼镜（OR=1.61,95%CI：1.23～2.10, P=0.001）均对孩子戴镜行为有显著的影响。结论：在我国农村地区,学生的视力不良已成为一个严 重的问题,且父母对视力问题的认识存在较大的误区。作为孩子行为的决策者,父母对视力健康知 识的认知会影响他们对孩子的视力检查及配镜等视力健康寻求行为的决策。     

Effectiveness of low vision services in improving patient quality of life at Aravind Eye Hospital

Context:In India, where the heavy burden of visual impairment exists, low vision services are scarce and under-utilized.Aims:Our study was designed to survey the effectiveness of low vision exams and visual aids in improving patient quality of life in southern rural India.Results:About 44 of 55 low vision patients completed baseline and follow-up LVQOL surveys, and 30 normal vision controls matched for age, gender, and education were also surveyed (average 117.34 points). After the low vision clinic visit, the low vision group demonstrated a 4.55-point improvement in quality of life (from 77.77 to 82.33 points, P = 0.001). Adjusting for age, gender, and education, the low vision patients who also received LVAs (n = 24) experienced an even larger increase than those who did not (n = 20) (8.89 points, P < 0.001).Conclusion:Low vision services and visual aids can improve the quality of life in South Indian rural population regardless of age, gender, and education level. Thus, all low vision patients who meet the criteria should be referred for evaluation.     

Access and utilization of a new low-vision rehabilitation service

Background: A new low‐vision service linking a public hospital and a non‐governmental organization was trialled in Melbourne, Australia. The factors associated with service use were investigated. Methods: A survey was conducted with patients who used the service, those who accepted referrals but failed to attend and those who refused a referral. Hospital and non‐governmental organization representatives were also interviewed. Results: Ninety‐eight eligible vision impaired people who were referred to the new service were recruited. Less than half (49%) followed through with their referral and attended the service. Proximity and convenience were listed as the main facilitators to service use while issues relating to transport, needing an accompanying person, lack of information about the service and poor health were the main barriers. More than a third of the non‐compliant and referral refusers spoke a language other than English. Sixty‐three per cent of all participants had not previously used low‐vision services. Of the two main eye conditions, 81% of referred age‐related macular degeneration participants (n = 26) attended the service, but only 32% of those with diabetic retinopathy (n = 31) did so. Conclusion: As more than 60% of participants in each of the three groups had no prior use of low‐vision services, clearly current models of care are not reaching many who could benefit from such services. This suggests that higher rates of referral are warranted. However, given that substantially more were referred than attended, referral alone is obviously not the answer. Access and attitudinal barriers also need to be addressed.     

Reading errors made by children with low vision.

Previous research has shown that, on average, children with low vision lag their sighted peers in general reading development (in terms of speed, accuracy and comprehension). This study sought to examine this apparent lag by comparing the reading profiles of 25 normally sighted readers (mean age 8 years 8 months) with 25 low vision readers. The children were tested using a reading test (the Neale Analysis of Reading Ability, NARA) and were matched on the reading accuracy score produced by the test. Therefore in terms of the reading accuracy scores (and reading ages) derived from the NARA both groups were the same. The low vision readers were on average older than the normally sighted children (mean = 10 years, 5 months). When the reading profile (i.e. accuracy, comprehension and speed) was examined in the same analysis no significant effect was revealed [d.f. = 1, 48; F = 0.05; p > 0.1], but a general lag for these children is suggested (in keeping with previous research). However, a closer analysis of the reading error profile revealed the most common reading errors made by all readers in the analysis were either mispronunciations or substitutions. The low vision readers were more prone to making substitution errors than mispronunciations and the reverse was true for normally sighted readers [d.f. = 1, 48; F = 7.1; p < 0.05]. This indicates that the reading strategies adopted by low vision readers may differ from those of normally sighted readers of the same apparent reading ability.     

视力低常的学龄前儿童屈光不正的分布规律研究

目的:观察与研究锦州市1 170例学龄前儿童视力低常的儿童屈光不正的分布规律.方法:抽取锦州市城区10所幼儿园,对3～6岁学龄前儿童进行视觉状况调查,分别进行视力检查、眼位检查、屈光状态检查、眼科常规检查以及立体视检查等.对于视力低于0.8的儿童进行散瞳验光.结果:(1)视力低常率:3岁为6.37％,4岁为7.79％,5岁为15.24％,6岁为8.93％,5岁儿童低常率明显高于其他年龄组,差异有显著性(P＜0.05);(2)视力低常眼病分布:视力低常患者中,屈光不正占95.61％.屈光不正分布:远视71.67％,其中3岁为75.00％,4岁为78.26％,5岁为75.44％,6岁为54.17％;近视17.50％,其中3岁为6.25％,4岁为13.04％,5岁为17.54％,6岁为29.17％;混合散光10.83％,其中3岁为18.75％,4岁为8.70％,5岁为7.02％,6岁为16.67％;(3)弱视情况:弱视患病率4.27％.对弱视相关因素调查显示,屈光参差性占36.00％,轻度66.67％,中度27.78％,重度5.56％;斜视性占16.00％,轻度25.00％,中度62.50％,重度12.50％;形觉剥夺性占2.00％,轻度0％,中度0％,重度100.00％.结论:学龄前儿童年龄较大者比年龄较小者视力较好,说明年龄的增长儿童视功能发育逐渐成熟.屈光不正中各组比例提示,远视是3～6岁学龄前儿童视力低下的主要原因.近视、斜视、弱视等因素所占比例提示普查手段十分重要,应早发现早治疗.     

视觉训练对低视力儿童阅读速度的影响

目的评价视觉训练对已有助视器的低视力儿童阅读速度的影响。方法共有9位有助视器使用经验的低视力儿童,先测量其阅读速度,再进行一系列的视觉训练和阅读训练,2个月后,当他们完成训练时,再次测量对相同文章的阅读速度,并比较训练前后患儿阅读速度的变化。结果在训练前后患儿阅读四号字的速度差异有显著性(P=0.003);在训练前后患儿阅读小五号字的速度差异有显著性(P=0.002)。结论视觉训练和阅读训练对提高低视力儿童的阅读速度是有效的,在临床低视力康复工作中,我们不应仅仅只把助视器提供给低视力儿童,同时还应进行适当的视觉训练和阅读训练来提高患儿的阅读速度,这对于正在学习阶段的儿童尤为重要。     

Barriers to accessing low vision services

AIM: To investigate barriers to accessing low vision services in Australia. METHODS: Adults with a vision impairment (<6/12 in the better eye and/or significant visual field defect), who were current patients at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH), were interviewed. The questions investigated self-perceived vision difficulties, duration of vision loss and satisfaction with vision and also examined issues of awareness of low vision services and referral to services. Focus groups were also conducted with vision impaired (<6/12 in the better eye) patients from the RVEEH, listeners of the Radio for the Print Handicapped and peer workers at Vision Australia Foundation. The discussions were recorded and transcribed. RESULTS: The questionnaire revealed that referral to low vision services was associated with a greater degree of vision loss (p = 0.002) and a greater self-perception of low vision (p = 0.005) but that referral was not associated with satisfaction (p = 0.144) or difficulties related to vision (p = 0.169). Participants with mild and moderate vision impairment each reported similar levels of difficulties with daily activities and satisfaction with their vision (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the level of difficulties experienced with daily activities between those with mild-moderate and severe vision impairment (p < 0.05). The participants of the focus groups identified barriers to accessing low vision services related to awareness of services among the general public and eye care professionals, understanding of low vision and the services available, acceptance of low vision, the referral process, and transport. CONCLUSION: In addition to the expected difficulties with lack of awareness of services by people with low vision, many people do not understand what the services provide and do not identify themselves as having low vision. Knowledge of these barriers, from the perspective of people with low vision, can now be used to guide the development and content of future health-promotion campaigns.     

Vision Rehabilitation and Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of visual hallucinations in Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) among patients at a Low Vision Clinic. To determine whether Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) intervention results in a decrease of these visual hallucinations. Methods: We surveyed 50 consecutive new patients in a low vision clinic to determine whether they had experienced visual hallucinations consistent with CBS. All patients were: questioned about the presence of visual hallucinations; given an educational handout that described CBS and reassured them of the benign nature of these hallucinations; and administered Folstein's Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE). During their low vision examination, all patients received low vision aids to improve their visual function. At follow-up patients who had symptoms of CBS were administered a second survey to evaluate whether they had experienced any change in the frequency of their visual hallucinations. Results: Of the 50 patients surveyed, 12 of 50 (24%) had visual hallucinations typical of CBS. 6 of these 12 patients (50%) had daily recurring hallucinations. At mean follow-up of 34.9 +/?30 days, a second survey was administered to 11 of the 12 patients diagnosed with CBS. One patient was lost to follow-up. Three of the 11 patients (27.3%) experienced a decrease in the frequency of their hallucinations by 43.33% +/?30.55%. Eight of 11 patients (72.7%) did not note a change in their symptoms. Conclusions: It is important to include direct questions regarding visual hallucinations in the case history of a low vision examination. LVR may decrease the frequency of CBS hallucinations in some patients. Rehabilitation strategies should include low vision devices that allow for improved visual function and patient education to provide needed reassurance.     

泉州市盲校学生视力损伤病因

目的：探讨泉州市盲校学生视力损伤的病因及残余视力的情况。方法：横断面研究。在2016 年期间对泉州盲校126 名低视力和盲学生进行病史采集,应用眼科常规检查方法对其行全面的眼科检查,并对学生的主要病因进行诊断和分析。结果：60 名盲学生的病因中：早产儿视网膜病变居第1 位,占23.3%（14 例）,角膜变性和视神经萎缩均列第2 位,各占13.3%（8 例）,第4 位为先天性青光眼占11.7%（7例）。66名低视力学生的病因中,先天性白内障居首位,占27.3%（18例）,眼球震颤为第2位,占13.7%（9 例）,视神经萎缩为第3 位,占10.6%（7 例）,角膜变性为第4 位,占9.1%（6 例）。结论：泉州市盲校的126 名学生中,先天性或遗传性疾病是导致视力损伤的主要原因,早产儿视网膜病变是致盲的首要病因,而先天性白内障是导致低视力的主要原因。     

中国大陆三级医疗机构低视力服务专业人员配置和服务提供情况分析

目的：统计分析我国三级医疗机构低视力服务专业人员配置和服务提供情况，为进一步推进我国低视力医疗康复工作提供参考依据。方法：描述性研究。于2015 年开始对全国提供眼科服务的三级医疗机构通过网上填报的方式进行普查，采用描述性统计方法和χ2检验，对我国三级医疗机构低视力服务专业人员配置和服务提供情况进行系统整理和统计分析。结果：本次调查覆盖全国1 508 家三级医疗机构，其中提供低视力诊疗康复服务的有559 家（37.07%），未提供服务的有949 家（62.93%），各级医疗机构在是否开展低视力康复服务方面差异有统计学意义（χ2=61.94，P<0.001）。在提供服务的机构中，已设立低视力专业门诊的有338家（60.47%），低视力年平均门诊量为964例。从事低视力医疗康复服务专业人员2 993 人，平均每家三级医疗机构有低视力专业医师1.98 人、护士0.46 人、技师0.41 人、辅助人员0.22 人。三级医疗机构以儿童功能性视力康复训练、低视力社区教育宣传和助视器验配为主要低视力服务类型。结论：我国三级医疗机构低视力学科建设亟待加强，专业人员总量偏低、人才梯队建设不完善，服务质量低、服务类型单一，无法满足我国低视力患者全方位的服务需求。     

Profile of a low vision clinic population

Background : Causes of low vision and types of low vision devices (LVDs) prescribed in other low vision clinics have been studied extensively. Similar studies have not been conducted in Malaysia. This paper reports the results of a retrospective study of 573 patients seen at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia-Malaysian Association for the Blind (UKM-MAB) low vision clinic in Kuala Lumpur. Methods : The record cards of 573 patients seen at the UKM-MAB clinic over 10 years were examined and the following information extracted: date of first consultation, age, sex, cause of visual impairment as diagnosed by an ophthalmologist and types of low vision devices (LVDs) prescribed. Results : The majority of patients were from the younger age groups with 423 (73.8 per cent) less than 50 years of age. Three hundred and ninety-five (68.9 per cent) of the subjects were males and 178 (31.1 per cent) female. The main causes of low vision were congenital structural defects including nystagmus among patients in the zero to 29 years age group, retinitis pigmentosa among the 30 to 59 years age group and age-related macular degeneration (ARM) among those over 60 years of age.     

社区中老年人群致盲与低视力眼病调查

目的 了解社区中老年人群盲与低视力的情况.方法 根据北京市西长安街社区居委会人口登记,采用逐户上门登记的方法确认被调查者的资格.对待检者2 833人应用问卷调查法询问被调查者的一般状况和生活习惯.对目标受检者进行裸眼视力、小孔视力、非接触眼压测量、裂隙灯检查、检眼镜检查、自动验光仪验光等.采用WHO推荐标准对受检人群盲及低视力结果进行评估,对目标受检人群致盲和低视力的原因进行分析.结果 登记50岁以上人口数2 833人,实际调查人数为2 410人,受检率为85.07%.该社区50岁及以上人群盲的患病率为0.79 %,低视力的患病率为5.64%.导致盲的首要病因是白内障,其次是青光眼和视网膜病变.导致低视力的首要病因是白内障,其次是屈光不正和糖尿病视网膜病变(DR).结论 北京市西城区西长安街社区≥50岁人群防盲及改善低视力工作的重点是白内障、青光眼、DR及屈光不正的早期诊断和治疗.     

张家界市贫困白内障患者防盲术后低视力的相关因素分析

目的:探讨张家界市贫困白内障患者防盲术后低视力的影响因素。方法:统计2009-01/2010-12我市进行防盲手术的贫困白内障患者临床资料。650例患者以性别、年龄、文化程度、是否吸烟喝酒、相关疾病、核的硬度、术中并发症、术后并发症8个临床观察因素作为自变量(X),低视力作为因变量,对术后3d及术后3mo进行非条件Logistic回归分析,研究防盲术后低视力的影响因素。结果:对变量进行非条件Logistic回归分析:术后3d统计,χ2=16.325,P=0.000,筛选出年龄(P=0.028)、相关疾病(P=0.002)、术中并发症(P=0.015)、术后并发症(P=0.008)是影响低视力的危险因素。术后3mo统计,χ2=23.012,P=0.000,筛选出年龄(P=0.016)、相关疾病(P=0.001)是影响低视力的危险因素。结论:年龄、相关疾病、术中并发症、术后并发症是影响防盲术后早期低视力的危险因素,长期效果来看防盲术后低视力主要和基础眼病以及年龄有关。     

Prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision among adults in Fiji

Background: To estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision among adults aged ≥40 years in Fiji. Design: Population‐based cross‐sectional study. Participants: Adults aged ≥40 years in Viti Levu, Fiji. Method: A population‐based cross‐sectional survey used multistage cluster random sampling to identify 34 clusters of 40 people. A cause of vision loss was determined for each eye with presenting vision worse than 6/18. Main Outcome Measures: Blindness (better eye presenting vision worse than 6/60), low vision (better eye presenting vision worse than 6/18, but 6/60 or better). Results: Of 1892 people enumerated, 1381 participated (73.0%). Adjusting sample data for ethnicity, gender, age and domicile, the prevalence of blindness was 2.6% (95% confidence interval 1.7, 3.4) and low vision was 7.2% (95% confidence interval 5.9, 8.6) among adults aged ≥40 years. On multivariate analysis, being ≥70 years was a risk factor for blindness, but ethnicity, gender and urban/rural domicile were not. Being Indo‐Fijian, female and older were risk factors for vision impairment (better eye presenting vision worse than 6/18). Cataract was the most common cause of bilateral blindness (71.1%). Among participants with low vision, uncorrected refractive error caused 63.3% and cataract was responsible for 25.0%. Conclusion: Strategies that provide accessible cataract and refractive error services producing good quality outcomes will likely have the greatest impact on reducing vision impairment.     

北京市医疗机构低视力康复服务状况调查

目的 了解北京市医疗机构低视力康复服务能力及现状,为政府低视力康复工作提供政策依据。设计 横断面研究。研究对象 北京市二级及以上医院90家。方法 通过问卷形式对90家医疗机构低视力康复工作进行调查,调查问卷由各调查机构视光和眼科负责人填写。收集的资料进行统计分析。主要指标 问卷应答率、是否开展低视力服务、不能开展低视力服务的原因、低视力康复年服务量、种类、人员状况及助视器的种类。结果 90家医疗机构中,做出有效应答的医疗机构86家,应答率95.56%。可提供低视力康复服务的医疗机构6家（6.98%）。医疗机构未开展低视力康复服务的原因依次是缺乏基本设备和助视器、缺乏资金、缺乏低视力专业人员以及没有患者来源。各家医疗机构提供的年服务量少者为0~49例,多者大于250例,年总服务量不足600人。低视力工作人员仅有19位。6家医院可提供光学近用助视器,3家医院可提供光学远用助视器,2家医院可提供电子助视器,6家医院均不能提供非视觉助视器,均未开展儿童功能性视力康复训练、日常生活能力和技能康复训练、职业训练、适应及行走训练等康复服务。购买助视器的资金来源有患者自费或非政府机构的资金支持,各种助视器的支付均未纳入医保范围。结论 北京市医疗机构低视力康复服务能力远远不能满足低视力患者的需求,应加强北京市低视力康复服务能力。（眼科, 2015, 24： 348-351）     

甘肃省平凉市崆峒区人群盲和低视力现况调查

目的:探讨与了解甘肃省平凉市崆峒区人群盲与低视力的患病率及致病原因。方法:应用横断面研究的流行病学调查方法,以村(社区)为基础,采用随机整群抽样原则抽取6个乡镇2个街道办事处作为调查地点。采用世界卫生组织制定的盲与低视力标准,对全区按0.719%抽样比例抽取样本进行盲与低视力的流行病学调查。结果:检录3235例中,受检人数为2801例,受检率为86.58%,双眼盲21例,盲率为0.75%(男0.59%,女0.91%);双眼低视力125例,低视力患病率为4.46%(男3.73%,女5.16%),≥60岁以上盲与低视力患者的患病率明显增高。致盲病因前三位的眼病依次为白内障(47.62%)、角膜病(14.29%)、青光眼(14.29%)。结论:崆峒区人群中盲和低视力的眼病以白内障居首位,因此手术治疗白内障仍是今后防盲治盲工作的首要任务。     

Vision rehabilitation for Canadians with less than 20/40 acuity: the SmartSight model

Traditionally, vision rehabilitation was directed towards patients who were blind or had very low vision. There is increasing evidence that less severe vision loss is associated with increased risk of falls, hip fractures, medication errors, poor nutrition, reduced physical activity, social isolation, clinical depression, longer hospitalizations, and mortality. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2003 SmartSight initiative in low vision rehabilitation outlined a model of graduated low vision interventions. This paper is a review of the AAO SmartSight model and how it can apply in the Canadian setting. All patients with visual acuity less than 20/40, a scotoma, field loss, or loss of contrast sensitivity would be offered information about available low vision rehabilitation. Eye physicians would be encouraged to communicate with other health care providers to coordinate existing services and integrate graduated services. Enhanced communication among caregivers about the consequences of vision loss, such as depression, falls, and visual hallucinations, could help ensure that all patients who would benefit receive appropriate vision rehabilitation.     

Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in Sichuan province of China

AIM: To describe the prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in a population within Sichuan province in southwestern China. · METHODS: A stratified, multi-phased and cluster probability sampling design was employed to enumerate 125641 participants from 40351 households within 38 counties/cities. Participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including standardized visual acuity (VA) tests using logarithm of the minimum angle resolution charts. Prevalence was age- and gender-standardized to the 2000 China Census. · RESULTS: Population-weighted prevalence of blindness was 0.77% (95%CI: 0.72-0.82, n=966) and low vision was 1.22% (95%CI: 1.14-1.27, n=1513). Overall, the prevalence of visual disability was 1.40% in the urban population, and 2.22% in the rural population (P<0.01). Cataract was the leading cause of visual disability (55.7%, n =1381), and was of similar frequency in both urban and rural populations. Retinal disease was the second leading cause(9.7%, n =236), but was more common in urban than in rural participants (34.3% vs 2.7%, P <0.01). Corneal disease accounted for 6.5% (n=161) of cases of visual disability, and was more common in the rural population (7.2% vs 3.9%, P =0.006). · CONCLUSION: We estimate that 1.72 million people suffer from visual disability within Sichuan province, of which 525000 are blind, the focus of blindness prevention should be in rural area.