Biomedical subjects

Pyda Giridhar

Publications and source records attributed to Pyda Giridhar.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Planning low vision services in India : a population-based perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and causes of low vision in a population in southern India for planning low vision services. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 10,293 persons of all ages from 94 clusters representative of the population of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. METHODS: The participants underwent a detailed eye examination, including measurement of visual acuity with logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution charts, refraction, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, and stereoscopic dilated fundus evaluation. Automated threshold visual fields and slit-lamp and fundus photography were done when indicated using predefined criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Low vision was defined as permanent visual impairment that was not correctable with refractive error correction or surgical intervention. The participants with best-corrected distance visual acuity <6/18 to perception of light or central visual field <10 degrees because of an untreatable cause in both eyes were considered as having low vision. RESULTS: Low vision was present in 144 participants, an age, gender, and urban-rural distribution adjusted prevalence of 1.05% (95% confidence interval, 0.82%-1.28%). The most frequent causes of low vision included retinal diseases (35.2%), amblyopia (25.7%), optic atrophy (14.3%), glaucoma (11.4%), and corneal diseases (8.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that the prevalence of low vision was significantly higher with increasing age, and there was a trend for higher prevalence with decreasing socioeconomic status. Extrapolating these data to the estimated 1014 million population of India in the year 2000, 10.6 (95% confidence interval, 8.4-12.8) million people would have low vision. CONCLUSIONS: These data imply that there is a significant burden of low vision in this population, suggesting the need for low vision services.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Population-based assessment of refractive error in India: the Andhra Pradesh eye disease study.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence, distribution, and demographic associations of refractive error in the population of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. METHODS: From 94 clusters in one urban and three rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, 11 786 persons of all ages were sampled using a stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling strategy in the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study, a population-based cross-sectional study. A total of 10 293 people underwent an interview and detailed dilated eye examination. Refraction was performed by ophthalmic personnel trained in the study procedures. Objective refraction under cycloplegia was assessed for participants < or = 15 years of age and subjective refraction for those > 15 years of age. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent worse than -0.50 D and hyperopia as spherical equivalent worse than +0.50 D. RESULTS: In the participants < or = 15 years of age, the prevalence of myopia was 3.19% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.24-4.13%) and of hyperopia was 62.62% (95% CI 57.10-68.13%). In this age group, myopia increased with increasing age and was more prevalent in the urban study area, and hyperopia prevalence was greater in the participants < 10 years of age. In participants > 15 years of age, the prevalence of myopia was 19.45% (95% CI 17.88-21.02%) and of hyperopia was 8.38% (95% CI 6.91-9.85%). Myopia and hyperopia increased with increasing age. Myopia was more common in males, those with education higher than class 12, those with nuclear cataract, and those living in rural study areas. Hyperopia was more common in females, those with any level of formal education, and those living in the urban area and in the well-off rural study area. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant refractive error in this population. These data on the distribution and associations of refractive error can be useful for the planning of refractive eye-care services.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Population-based study of spectacles use in southern India.

This study assessed the use of spectacles and its demographic associations in a sample representative of the population of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 11,786 subjects of all ages were sampled from 94 clusters in one urban and three rural study areas of Andhra Pradesh using stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling. The eligible subjects underwent detailed interview and eye examination including dilated examination of the posterior segment. The data on the use of spectacles were analysed for subjects > 15 years of age. A total of 7,432 subjects > 15 years of age participated in the study of whom 1,030 (13.8%) had a refractive error of spherical equivalent +/- 3.00 Diopter or worse. The prevalence of current use of spectacles in those with spherical equivalent +/- 3.00 Diopter or worse, who were likely to be visually impaired without refractive correction, was 34.2% (95% confidence interval 30.3-38%) and of previous use of spectacles was 12.3% (95% confidence interval 10.3-14.3%). The odds of using spectacles currently were significantly higher for those with any level of education, those living in the urban area, and for those with aphakia or psuedophakia as compared with natural refractive error. Among those who had used spectacles previously, 43.8% had discontinued because they felt that either the prescription was incorrect or that the spectacles were uncomfortable, suggesting poor quality of refractive services, and another 19.6% had lost the pair and could not afford to buy another pair. These data suggest that the use of spectacles in this population by those with refractive error was not optimal. Two-thirds of those with spherical equivalent +/- 3.00 Diopter or worse were not using spectacles. Of those who had discontinued the use of spectacles, a significant proportion did so for reasons related to poor quality of refractive services. Strategies such as vision screening programmes and eye health promotion need to be implemented, the quality of refractive services monitored and the cost of spectacles regulated, if the substantial burden of visual impairment due to refractive error in this population is to be reduced.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Fear of blindness and perceptions about blind people. The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study.

This study assessed the fear of being affected by illness and disability including blindness, and perceptions of the population towards blind people in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 11,786 subjects of all ages were sampled from 94 clusters in one urban and three rural study areas of Andhra Pradesh using stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling to represent the population of this state. A total of 10,293 subjects of all ages underwent a detailed interview and dilated ocular evaluation. Subjects > 15 years of age (7,432) were interviewed regarding fear of illness/disability and their perceptions of blind people. The fear of blindness was assessed in comparison to cancer, severe mental illness, heart attack, losing limbs, deafness, inability to speak, and paralysis. A majority of the study population feared all the illnesses and disabilities assessed. The prevalence of fear of blindness was 90.9% (95% confidence interval 89.1-92.8%) and 92.1% (95% confidence interval 90.6-93.6%) in urban and rural study areas respectively. With multiple logistic regression the fear of blindness was significantly higher for those with any level of education and for those living in the rural study areas. The proportion of those having positive feelings towards blind people was higher in the urban study area. A high prevalence of blindness, 1.84%, has been reported in this population previously. These data suggest that this population feared blindness, and yet there is a high rate of blindness. This reflects the need for increasing awareness about blindness in this population through eye health promotion strategies in order to reduce blindness, and awareness regarding the availability of rehabilitation services.

Adaptation, Psychological↗