Authors: Mansberger SL, Romero FC, Smith NH, Johnson CA, Cioffi GA, Edmunds B, Choi D, Becker T

Publication Year: 2005

Journal: American Journal of Public Health

Keywords: common eye problems, visual impairment; glaucoma; ocular hypertension; maculopathy; cataracts; macular degeneration; blindness; urban population; diabetic retinopathy

Abstract: 

Objectives: Little information exists regarding the causes of visual impairment and the most common eye problems in American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Methods. We randomly sampled American Indians/Alaska Natives older than 40 years from 3 tribes within the Northwest region.

Results. We found a higher prevalence of visual impairment and normal-tension glaucoma, as well as a lower prevalence of ocular hypertension, in American Indians/Alaska Natives compared with previous results in other racial/ethnic groups.

Conclusions: American Indians/Alaska Natives have a need for vision correction. Future interventions in American Indian/Alaska Natives should include providing spectacles for refractive error, detecting glaucoma, and preventing visual impairment from age-related maculopathy and cataracts.

Source: Link to Original Article.

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1449272/pdf/0950881.pdf