Questo importante studio epidemiologico ha valutato i difetti di vista (miopia) presenti nella popolazione indiana rurale delle regioni centrali del paese.
Sono stati valutati 9076 occhi di 4619 soggetti, una volta esclusi coloro che erano stati sottoposti a interventi chirurgici; 2472 esaminati erano donne.
Il difetto medio era −0.20±1.51 diottrie.
Per quanto riguarda la gradazione della miopia si è riscontrato: Una miopia maggiore di 0,5 D era presente nel 17% dei soggetti, maggiore di 1,0 D nel 13%, maggiore di 6,0 D nel 0,9% e maggiore di 8 D nello 0,4%.
La miopia elevata è risultata più diffusa nel sesso maschile. Per l’ipermetropia, un difetto superiore a 0.50 D è stato riscontrato nel 18.0% dei soggetti.
L’analisi multivariata non ha rilevato connessione tra i difetti refrattivi e il livello di istruzione.
Lo studio dimostra che la popolazione rurale dell’India centrale non mostra la tendenza alla miopia presente nella popolazione della costa pacifica più urbanizzata.
Viene anche dimostrato che il basso livello di istruzione non è associato con la miopia.
Come in altri studi epidemiologici del passato, anche da questo studio si evince che le popolazioni rurali non soffrono in maniera significativa di difetti refrattivi e che la popolazione diventa miope quando viene urbanizzata.



American Academy of Ophthalmology JournalRefractive Error in Central India: The Central India Eye and Medical Study

Vinay Nangia, FRCS, MD, Jost B. Jonas, MD, Ajit Sinha, DO, MD, Arshia Matin, MS, MD, Maithili Kulkarni, DO, MD

Ophthalmology
Volume 117, Issue 4, Pages 693-699 (April 2010)



Objective To evaluate the refractive error and its associations in the adult population of rural Central India.

Design Population-based study.

Participants The Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a markedly rural region in Central India. It included 4711 subjects (aged 30 years or older) of 5885 eligible subjects (response rate, 80.1%).

Methods The participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic and medical examination, including standardized questions on the socioeconomic background, lifestyle, and social relations. This study was focused on the refractive error, the prevalence of hyperopia and myopia, and its factors.

Main Outcome Measures Refractive error.

Results After exclusion of pseudophakic or aphakic eyes, 9076 (96.3%) eyes of 4619 (98.0%) subjects (2472 females) were included into the study. The mean refractive error was −0.20±1.51 diopters (D). Myopia of more than −0.50 D, −1.0 D, more than −6.0 D, and more than −8 D occurred in 17.0±0.6%, 13.0±0.5%, 0.9±1.4%, and 0.4±0.1% of the subjects, respectively. Hyperopia of more than 0.50 D was detected in 18.0±0.6% of the subjects. Refractive error was associated significantly (i.e., became more hyperopic) with lower age (P<0.001), lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001), lower corneal refractive power (P<0.001), and shorter axial length (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, refractive error was not significantly associated with the level of education (P = 0.56). High myopia (>−8 D) was associated significantly with male gender (P = 0.03) and lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001). Mean anisometropia was 0.41±1.02 D. It was associated significantly with age (P<0.001), myopic refractive error (P<0.001), and lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001). The mean astigmatic error was 0.29±0.60 D and was associated significantly with higher age (P<0.001), level of education (P = 0.01), lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001), and higher corneal refractive power (P<0.001). Conclusions The rural population of Central India has not experienced a myopic shift as described for many urban populations at the Pacific Rim. Correspondingly, the relatively low level of education was not associated with myopia. Urbanization may be a major factor for myopization.

Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references./em/em/em