Research
Unilateral Visual Impairment in Rural South India-Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study (APEDS)
The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence and causes of unilateral visual impairment (UVI) in rural population of all ages in rural Andhra Pradesh, India.
This was a population-based cross sectional study conducted with 6634 participants after excluding those with bilateral VI.
The prevalence of UVI was 7.8% (95% CI: 7.2% – 8.5%).
Uncorrected refractive error (60.8%), cataract (17.4%) and retinal causes (6.6%) were the leading causes of UVI.
Older age, not having education, living in well-off district had significantly higher odds of being associated with UVI.
The study found UVI as common in rural south India due to cataract and refractive errors, both of which can be addressed at primary and secondary levels of eye care.