Biomedical subjects

A Fotouhi

Publications and source records attributed to A Fotouhi.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Uncorrected refractive errors and spectacle utilisation rate in Tehran: the unmet need.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of the met and unmet need for spectacles and their associated factors in the population of Tehran. METHODS: 6497 Tehran citizens were enrolled through random cluster sampling and were invited to a clinic for an interview and ophthalmic examination. 4354 (70.3%) participated in the survey, and refraction measurement results of 4353 people aged 5 years and over are presented. The unmet need for spectacles was defined as the proportion of people who did not use spectacles despite a correctable visual acuity of worse than 20/40 in the better eye. RESULTS: The need for spectacles in the studied population, standardised for age and sex, was 14.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 12.8% to 15.4%). This need was met with appropriate spectacles in 416 people (9.3% of the total sample), while it was unmet in 230 people, representing 4.8% of the total sample population (95% CI, 4.1% to 5.4%). The spectacle coverage rate (met need/(met need + unmet need)) was 66.0%. Multivariate logistic regression showed that variables of age, education, and type of refractive error were associated with lack of spectacle correction. There was an increase in the unmet need with older age, lesser education, and myopia. CONCLUSION: This survey determined the met and unmet need for spectacles in a Tehran population. It also identified high risk groups with uncorrected refractive errors to guide intervention programmes for the society. While the study showed the unmet need for spectacles and its determinants, more extensive studies towards the causes of unmet need are recommended.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Distribution of intraocular pressure in healthy Iranian individuals: the Tehran Eye Study.

AIM: To provide data on the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) in an Iranian population. METHODS: Through a population based, cross sectional study, 4565 Tehran citizens were studied in the Tehran Eye Study. The findings from the participants (n = 3834) aged 10 years and older free of glaucoma diagnosis or suspicion who had undergone applanation tonometry examination are presented. All participants received a standardised protocol including applanation tonometry, fundus examination, demographic data, and an interview. IOP measurement was used to evaluate its distribution by age, sex, and some eye parameters. RESULTS: Mean (SD) IOP was 14.5 (2.6) mm Hg in the total population, 14.4 (2.7) in men, and 14.5 (2.5) in women. Mean (SD) IOP in people > or =40 years was 15.1 (2.9) mm Hg. IOP increased significantly with age and cup:disc ratio except for a fall in old age. This relation was also observed when individuals without diabetes or hypertension history were analysed. IOP increased with darker eye pigmentation except for blue/grey eyes. There was a non-linear increase in IOP from emmetropic to high myopic eyes. CONCLUSION: Age, iris colour, and cup:disc ratio were related to IOP but not to sex. The distribution of IOP in this study was different from various other studies in different geographical regions and it seems advisable to employ a geographical approach to normal IOP interpretation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The prevalence and causes of visual impairment in Tehran: the Tehran Eye Study.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in Tehran, Iran, through a population based study. METHODS: In a population based, cross sectional study, 6497 Tehran citizens were sampled from 160 clusters using a stratified, random, cluster sampling strategy. The eligible people were enumerated through a door to door household survey in the selected clusters and were invited. All participants were transferred to a clinic for an extensive eye examination and interview. Visual impairment was determined using presenting and best corrected visual acuity (low vision: visual acuity of less than 6/18 to 3/60 in the better eye; blindness: visual acuity of less than 3/60 in the better eye). RESULTS: Of those sampled, 4565 (70.3%) people participated in the study. The age and sex standardised prevalences of visual impairment on the basis of best corrected and presenting visual acuity were 1.39% (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07 to 1.71) and 2.52% (95% CI, 2.07 to 2.97), respectively. 15 people (0.28%; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.42) were blind with corrected vision while 22 (0.39%; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.56) were blind with presenting vision. Using the corrected and presenting vision, the prevalence of low visual impairment was 1.11% (95% CI, 0.84 to 1.39) and 2.13% (95% CI, 1.71 to 2.55), respectively. The causes of visual impairment according to the best corrected vision were cataract (36.0%), macular degeneration (20.0%), and amblyopia (10.7%). However, according to the presenting vision, uncorrected refractive errors were the most frequent primary cause (33.6%) and cataract (25.4%), macular degeneration (12.7%), and amblyopia (8.2%) were the other main causes of visual impairment in the study sample. The prevalence of visual impairment was associated with advancing age and lower education. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the burden of visual impairment is important and, although easily preventable, uncorrected refractive errors and cataract have a major role as causes of visual impairment in this population. Results also highlight the need for visual impairment prevention programmes, with emphasis on treatment of refractive errors and cataract.

Adolescent↗