Epidemiological investigation of ophthalmopathy among adults aged 50 years or above in Ningbo

Objective To assess the prevalence, causes and risk factors of ocular diseases of the people aged 50 years or older in Ningbo. Methods Random cluster sampling strategies were adopted in a population-based and epidemiological investigation of ophthalmopathy from March 2015 to July 2016 in Ningbo. Six thousand and fifty-nine subjects aged 50 years or older were selected. All the participants underwent a face-to-face questionnaire interview and detailed eye examination. To assess the prevalence of various ophthalmopathy and the causes of major blinding ophthalmopathy, ocular examinations included measurements of visual acuity, direct ophthalmoscopy, intraocular pressure (IOP), silt lamp examination, fundus photography, and computer optometry. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 19.0 software for χ² test, P<0.05 was significant difference. Results In 6 059 eligible persons, totally 5 448 individuals were examined. Response rate was 89.9%. The ratio of pterygium, catarace, fundus diseases, glaucoma, refractive error and keratopathy was 14.34%, 23.22%, 12.81%, 1.08%, 38.00% and 2.06%. He ratio of bilateral blindness and low vision was 0.95% and 3.34 respectively, the ratio of unilateral blindness and low vision was 0.17% and 1.36%. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness. Age, outdoor occupation, environment (coastal and land), diabetes had statistically significance on the prevalence of cataract (all P<0.05). Age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, drinking had statistically significance on the prevalence of fundus diseases (all P<0.05). Conclusion These data will provide key information about the prevalence of major ophthalmopathy and major causes of blinding eye diseases in the Ningbo and which can be used for planning a reasonable distribution of medical resources and the strategies for the prevention and treatments of blindness in Ningbo.