Prevalence and causes of blindness and vision impairment among people 50 years and older in Nepal: A national Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and vision impairment among people 50 years and older in Nepal.

Methods

We conducted seven provincial-level Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) cross-sectional, population-based surveys between 2018-2021. Provincial prevalence estimates were weighted to give nationally representative estimates. Sampling, enumeration, and examination of the population 50 years and older were done at the province level following standard RAAB protocol.

Results

Across seven surveys, we enrolled 33,228 individuals, of whom 32,565 were examined (response rate 98%). Females (n = 17,935) made up 55% of the sample. The age-sex-province weighted national prevalence of blindness (better eye presenting visual acuity <3/60) wa

SUBMITTER: Kumar Mishra S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11824995 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature