A survey of blindness and low vision in Shanxi Province

In accordance with the unified criteria and methods over the country, a sampling survey of blindness and low vision was carried out in Shanxi province in April, 1987. The sample population was 53,656 persons and the actual number examined was 51,664 (96.3%). The provincial prevalence of blindness was 0.46%, i.e. 0.18% in cities and 0.50% in rural areas, with senile cataract as the leading cause for blindness (29.7%). The prevalence of monocular blindness was 0.85% and that of low vision 1.23%. The authors also proposed key points for the prevention and treatment of blindness and low vision.