Ophthalmology in the tropics

significance

• eye health is related to every factor of total 17 SDGs both directly and indirectly
• vision impairment significantly increases mortality

definition

• ○/●　○=distance in meter　●=designated scale
  • Japanese decimal visual acuity can be converted by just calculation of the fraction
• Peek Vision App (only for Android)
• normal > 6/6
• visual impairment 6/12 - 3/60
• blind <3/60

magnitude

• 1.1 bil. some vision impairment in 2020
  • 43 mil. blind
  • 295 mil. MSVI (moderate to severe visual impairment)
  • 258 mil. mild impairment
  • 510 mil. near impairment
• 90% of visually impaired people live in LMICs
• Women are more suffered from visual impairment than men
  • because of a bit longer longevity of women as well as higher neglect from medical service than men

causes

1. cataract
2. uncorrected refractive error (myopia and so on)
3. glaucoma
4. age-related macula degeneration
5. corneal opacity
6. diabetic retinopathy
7. trachoma (Chlamydia trachomatis)

link

• The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health
• International Centre for Eye Health