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2017 CAO CONGRESS POSTER ABSTRACTS

Prevalence of visual impairment and eye disease in Miragoâne, Haïti

Julie Brûlé, OD, MSc, FAAO, Benoît Tousignant, OD, MSc, MPH, FAAO
Ecole d’optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec
CONTEXT
In Haiti, few data on blindness and visual impairment are available. The National Blindness Prevention Committee (CNPC)
has estimated blindness to affect 1% Haitians and that 7% of children attending school have undiagnosed refractive errors.
IRIS Mundial (IM) is a non-governmental organisation collaborating with the CNPC to develop local eye care infrastructure.

PURPOSE
To estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in the region of Miragoâne.

METHODS
From April 27th to May 1st 2016, an IM team performed ophthalmic examinations in Miragoâne. Data collected from
all examinations were compiled.

R E S U LT S
In total, 1709 patients were examined (61% female; 18% aged 18 or less). In the better eye, 83% of patients had
normal vision (presenting VA > 6/18); 15% had moderate visual impairment (< 6/18 > 6/60), 0.2% had severe visual
impairment (< 6/60 > 3/60) and 2% were blind (<3/60). Seventeen percent of patients had low myopia (0D to -3D) in
both eyes (OU) and 1.2% had myopia > -3D OU. Fifty-three percent had low hyperopia (< 2D) OU while 5% showed
high hyperopia (> 2D OU); 65% were presbyopic. Forty-two percent of patients had high astigmatism (>2D) OU. Five
percent of patients showed binocular cataracts of grade 3 or worse. One percent of patients were diagnosed with
probable glaucoma (C/D > 0.8 and IOP > 24 mmHg) OU and 5% had binocular pterygium (> 1-2 mm on cornea).

CONCLUSIONS
Our data give an indication of the prevalence of visual impairment and ocular disease in Miragoâne, Haïti. Preva-
lence estimates for uncorrected distance refractive errors were significant, especially for presbyopia and high
astigmatism. Cataracts, glaucoma and pterygium are confirmed as prevalent conditions in this population, which
prompts the need to plan appropriate interventions to tackle this burden of disease.

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CANADIAN JOURNAL of OPTOMETRY | REVUE CANADIENNE D’OPTOMÉTRIE VOL. 79 NO. 2