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Purpose: To assess the prevalence of glaucoma in rural Central India. Methods: The population-based Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a rural region of Central India. The study included 4711 subjects (aged 30+ years). A detailed ophthalmic and medical examination was performed. Glaucoma was defined by glaucomatous optic disc morphology, and in a second step, by the criteria of the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO). Results: Optic disc photographs were available for 4570 (97.0%) subjects. Glaucoma was detected in 122 subjects (51 unilateral) (2.67% (95%CI: 2.20, 3.14). Glaucoma prevalence for the age groups of 30–39yrs, 40–49yrs, 50–59yrs, 60–69yrs, 70–79yrs, and 80+ years was 0.54% (95%CI: 0.11, 0.98), 1.03% (95%CI: 0.49, 1.57), 1.40% (95%CI: 0.58, 2.23), 6.62% (95%CI: 4.92, 8.31), 8.71% (95%CI: 5.55, 11.75), and 14.3% (95%CI: 4.13, 24.4), respectively. In multivariable analysis, glaucoma was associated with higher age (P<0.001), lower body mass index (P = 0.025), lower blood hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.03), higher intraocular pressure (P<0.001), disc hemorrhages (P<0.001), higher prevalence of myopic retinopathy (P<0.001), lower level of education (P = 0.03), longer axial length (P<0.001), thinner retinal nerve fiber layer (P<0.001), higher vertical cup/disc diameter ratio (P<0.001), and narrow anterior chamber angle (P = 0.02). Ratio of open-angle glaucoma to angle-closure glaucoma was 7.7:1 (1.93% (95%CI: 1.64, 2.22) to 0.24% (95%CI: 0.14, 0.34)). Using the ISGEO criteria, glaucoma prevalence was 2.8% (95%CI: 2.3, 3.3) with a less clear association with older age. Conclusions: Glaucoma prevalence in remote rural Central India is comparable to other regions. Associated factors were older age, lower body mass index, lower blood concentration of hemoglobin, lower level of education, higher intraocular pressure, disc hemorrhage, myopic retinopathy, and longer axial length. The ratio of open-angle glaucoma to angle-closure glaucoma was about 8:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:To determine the frequency of optic disc hemorrhages in a rural Indian population. Methods:The population-based Central Indian Eye and Medical Study included 4711 subjects. Mean age was 48.5±12.9 years (range: 30-100 years). Color optic disc photographs were examined. Results:Optic disc photographs were available for 4570 (97.0%) subjects. Prevalence of disc hemorrhages was 17/8869 (0.19%; 95%CI:0.10,0.28) per eye and 16/4570 (0.35±0.09%; 95%CI:0.18,0.52) per subject. Prevalence of disc hemorrhages increased from 0.05% (95%CI:0.00,0.13) in the age group of 30-39 years to 0.25% (95CI:0.00,0.49) in the age group of 60-69 years and to 0.91% (95%CI:0.24,1.58) in the age group of 70+ years. After adjusting for older age, higher systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, myopic refractive error, smaller neuroretinal rim area and thinner retinal nerve fiber layer, occurrence of disc hemorrhages was associated only with glaucomatous optic nerve damage (P<0.001; Odds ratio: 87; 95%CI:32,239). Eleven of the 17 (65%; 95%CI:39,90) disc hemorrhages were found in glaucomatous eyes. Out of 193 glaucomatous eyes, 11 eyes (5.7%; 95%CI:2.4,9.0) showed a disc hemorrhage. Out of the 8676 non-glaucomatous eyes, 6 eyes (0.07%; 95%CI:0.01,0.12) had an optic disc hemorrhage. Conclusions:Prevalence of disc hemorrhages (0.2% per eye; 0.4% per subject) in Indians aged 30+ years was strongly associated with glaucoma after adjustment for age, blood pressure and diabetes mellitus. A disc hemorrhage suggested glaucomatous optic nerve damage with a positive predictive value of 65%. About 6% of glaucomatous eyes showed a disc hemorrhage at the time of clinical examination highlighting the importance of optic disc hemorrhages for the diagnosis of glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the normal distribution of axial length of the globe, which is a major measurement of the eye, and its associations with other ocular and systemic parameters. Design: Population-based study. Participants: The Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a rural region of central India. The study comprised 4711 subjects (aged 30+ years) of 5885 eligible individuals (response rate, 80.1%). Methods: A detailed ophthalmic and medical examination was performed. The axial length was measured sonographically. Main Outcome Measures: Axial length. Results: Axial length measurements were available on 4698 study participants (99.7%). Their mean age was 49.4±13.4 years (range, 30–100 years), and the mean refractive error was −0.18±1.48 diopters (range, −20.0 to +7.25 diopters). Mean axial length was 22.6±0.91 mm (range, 18.22–34.20 mm). In multivariate analysis, axial length was significantly (P<0.001) associated with the systemic parameters of increased age, taller body height, greater body mass index, and higher level of education, and with the ocular parameters of lower best-corrected visual acuity, lower corneal refractive power, deeper anterior chamber, thicker lens, and more myopic spherical power and cylindrical refractive power. Within the highly myopic group, as defined by an axial length that exceeded 26.5 mm, none of these associations (except for the association between axial length and spherical refractive power) were statistically significant (P>0.15) in univariate or multivariate analysis. Conclusions: In a rural population of central India, the mean ocular axial length was 22.6±0.91 mm, which was shorter than that of other populations. Axial length was associated with the systemic parameters of increased age, taller body height, greater body mass index, and a higher level of education, and with the ocular parameters of lower best-corrected visual acuity, lower corneal refractive power, deeper anterior chamber, thicker lens, and more myopic spherical and cylindrical refractive power. These associations were valid only for those eyes that were not highly myopic, whereas axial length was associated with refractive error only in highly myopic eyes. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate the refractive error and its associations in the adult population of rural Central India. Design: Population-based study. Participants: The Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a markedly rural region in Central India. It included 4711 subjects (aged 30 years or older) of 5885 eligible subjects (response rate, 80.1%). Methods: The participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic and medical examination, including standardized questions on the socioeconomic background, lifestyle, and social relations. This study was focused on the refractive error, the prevalence of hyperopia and myopia, and its factors. Main Outcome Measures: Refractive error. Results: After exclusion of pseudophakic or aphakic eyes, 9076 (96.3%) eyes of 4619 (98.0%) subjects (2472 females) were included into the study. The mean refractive error was −0.20±1.51 diopters (D). Myopia of more than −0.50 D, −1.0 D, more than −6.0 D, and more than −8 D occurred in 17.0±0.6%, 13.0±0.5%, 0.9±1.4%, and 0.4±0.1% of the subjects, respectively. Hyperopia of more than 0.50 D was detected in 18.0±0.6% of the subjects. Refractive error was associated significantly (i.e., became more hyperopic) with lower age (P<0.001), lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001), lower corneal refractive power (P<0.001), and shorter axial length (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, refractive error was not significantly associated with the level of education (P = 0.56). High myopia (>−8 D) was associated significantly with male gender (P = 0.03) and lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001). Mean anisometropia was 0.41±1.02 D. It was associated significantly with age (P<0.001), myopic refractive error (P<0.001), and lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001). The mean astigmatic error was 0.29±0.60 D and was associated significantly with higher age (P<0.001), level of education (P = 0.01), lower best-corrected visual acuity (P<0.001), and higher corneal refractive power (P<0.001). Conclusions: The rural population of Central India has not experienced a myopic shift as described for many urban populations at the Pacific Rim. Correspondingly, the relatively low level of education was not associated with myopia. Urbanization may be a major factor for myopization. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of keratoconus in the adult Indian population. Design: Population-based study. Methods: The Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a rural region close to Nagpur in Central India. It included 4,711 subjects (aged 30 years and above) out of 5,885 eligible subjects (response rate, 80.1%). The participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic and medical examination. This study was focused on the prevalence of keratoconus, defined as an anterior corneal refractive power exceeding 48 diopters (D). Results: Out of the 4,711 subjects, corneal refractive power measurements were available for 4,667 subjects (99.1%). Keratoconus was detected in 212 eyes (2.3%) of 128 subjects (prevalence rate, 2.3% ± 0.2%). In multivariate analysis, the presence of keratoconus was significantly associated with lower body height (P < .001), lower level of education (P= .03), higher myopic refractive error (P = .004), and thinner central corneal thickness (P = .006). It was not significantly associated with alcohol consumption (P = .99) or smoking (P = .08) nor with questions relating to the psychiatric status. Defining a keratoconus as corneal refractive power of ≥49 D or of ≥50 D, a keratoconus was detected in 58 eyes (0.6%) and 10 eyes (0.1%), respectively. Conclusions: Keratoconus defined as corneal refractive power of 48+ D has a prevalence of 2.3% ± 0.2% among Indians aged 30 years and above and living in the rural region of Central India. The prevalence of keratoconus was associated with lower body height, lower level of education, myopic refractive error, and thinner central cornea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]