Feasibility and effectiveness of a health examination center-based opportunistic eye diseases screening

Authors: Zhang Shaodan,  Liang Yuanbo,  Sun Jing,  Liu Shanshan,  Xu Lin,  Wang Hailin,  Liu Chi,  Li Ruoxi

DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.2095-0160.2017.12.013
Published 2017-12-10
Cite as Chin J Exp Ophthalmol, 2017,35(12): 1120-1125.

Abstract                              [Download PDF] [Read Full Text]

Background

Blindness and low vision represent significant public health issues in China.Late diagnosis is the major reason for the irreversible vision impairment.A feasible, cost-effective screening and referral program is very important for the eye health care, prevention and treatment of blindness in China.

Objective

This study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a health examination center-based opportunistic eye disease screening program.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study.Subjects undergoing a routine physical examination at the health examination center of the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang were invited to attend this program.Presenting visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and nonmydriatic fundus photography were obtained.Optic disc photographs were evaluated independently by two ophthalmologists.Blindness and moderate to severe vision impairment were defined based on the criteria of World Health Organization Visual Impairment Classification in 2009.Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy(DR) and other suspected eye diseases were diagnosed according to the fundus photography and intraocular pressure.This study was approved by Ethic Committe of the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, the informed consent of each subject was obtained.

Results

Totally, 15 303 subjects were enrolled and 15 197 of them finished the exanimations, giving a response rate of 99.3%.The overall percentage of blindness and moderate to severe visual impairment was 0.08% (12/15 197) and 2.34% (355/15 197). Two hundred and twenty-eight (1.50%) subjects were defined as glaucoma suspects and 80 individuals (0.53%) were diagnosed as epimacular membrane.Other suspected eye diseases included DR (0.41%), branchial retinal vessel occlusion (0.24%), macular degeneration (0.09%), and macular hole (0.06%). More than 95% of the eye disease suspects have never been previously diagnosed or treated.A total of 358 subjects (2.36%) were defined as ocular hypertension suspects.

Conclusions

This health examination center-based opportunistic eye disease screening shows a good efficiency and feasibility.It may become an optional program in the national eye health care project, as well as the work of prevention and treatment of blindness.

Key words:

Opportunistic eye disease screening; Prevention and treatment of blindness; Eye health care

Contributor Information

Zhang Shaodan
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
Liang Yuanbo
The Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
Sun Jing
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
Liu Shanshan
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
Xu Lin
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
Wang Hailin
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
Liu Chi
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
Li Ruoxi
Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
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