© 2005 American Public Health Association DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.054221
Steven L. Mansberger, Beth Edmunds, Chris A. Johnson, and George A. Cioffi are with the Devers Eye Institute/Discoveries in Sight at Legacy Health System, Portland, Ore. Francine C. Romero is with the Northern Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center in Aberdeen, SD. Steven L. Mansberger, Nicole H. Smith, Dongseok Choi, and Thomas M. Becker are with the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Ore. Correspondence: Correspondence should be sent to Steven L. Mansberger, MD, MPH, Devers Eye Institute/Discoveries in Sight, 1040 NW 22nd Ave, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97210 (e-mail: smansberger{at}discoveriesinsight.org).
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 Indians/Alaska Natives should include providing spectacles for refractive error, detecting glaucoma, and preventing visual impairment from age-related maculopathy and cataracts.
Investigators need prevalence information to guide preventive health measures. Epidemiological studies have documented the prevalence and cause of visual impairment in non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics, and Blacks in the United States.14 The Baltimore Eye Study indicated that undercorrected refractive error, cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma were the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in an urban population of Whites and Blacks.1,2 Proyecto VER (Project Vision, Evaluation, Research), a study examining the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other causes of visual loss in Mexican Americans, reported cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma as the most common causes of visual impairment in Hispanics in southern Arizona.3 Macular degeneration was the most common cause of visual impairment in the Beaver Dam Study.4 The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study determined the risk factors for visual impairment in Latinos in urban Los Angeles County.5 Similar information regarding American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) populations does not exist. Most studies of AIAN populations have been chart reviews or convenience sample studies.68 These types of study designs do not reliably estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness because the selection criteria do not include randomization for all eligible participants of the population. Our purpose is to outline the common causes of visual impairment and the most common eye problems in a random sample of Northwest American Indians/Alaska Natives.
Selection Criteria We randomly selected 3 tribes from the Northwest region of the United States (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho) for inclusion in the study. We assigned each tribe a computer-generated random number and invited the 3 tribes with the lowest numbers to participate. To be eligible, tribes needed to have at least 400 enrolled members aged 40 years or older. We used the tribal enrollment database to perform an age-stratified, random sample of these members. We excluded candidates who had died, were seriously ill, or had dementia (which prevents subjective testing such as visual acuity and visual field testing). Each selected individual was invited to participate by phone and by mail. A tribal coordinator, a volunteer, or an ophthalmic technician interviewed and performed a baseline examination of all individuals. The interview determined AIAN heritage, ocular and medical history, family history, risk factors for eye disease with a modified Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey,9 and the effect of eye disease on quality of life with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25).10
Baseline Examination
Ophthalmologic Follow-Up Examination
The ophthalmologist used standard criteria to determine the prevalence of eye disorders. Table 2
An abnormal standard achromatic automated perimetry result was defined as a pattern standard deviation outside 95% of age-specific norms; a glaucoma hemifield test result outside 99.5% of age-specific norms (outside normal limits on Statpac2 [Carl Zeiss Meditech, Dublin, Calif); or a mean deviation outside the 95% limits without generalized reduction in sensitivity.
Statistical Analysis Our analysis required statistical weighting to accurately determine the prevalence of eye diseases, because not all persons with a normal baseline examination result were selected for the follow-up examination and not all persons with an abnormal baseline examination result completed a follow-up examination. The weighting was determined by dividing the total number of normal baseline examination results by the number of participants with normal baseline results who completed the follow-up examination (88/12 = 7.333) and by dividing the total number of abnormal baseline results by the number of participants with abnormal results who completed the follow-up examination (199/157 = 1.267). One participant had a home examination without a baseline examination; the result was not weighted.
We recruited a total of 288 participants: 98 participants from tribe A, 93 participants from tribe B, and 97 participants from tribe C. The overall enrollment was 32% of all possible selected participants. We were unable to contact 48% of possible participants. Reasons for noncontact included inactive telephone numbers and absence from home. Ten percent were unable to have an eye examination on the dates of testing. Another 10% scheduled an appointment but did not show up for the examination.
Demographic Characteristics
Thirty-four (19%) women and 24 (23%) men reported a medical history of diabetes. An additional 5 (2%) participants had previously undiagnosed diabetes with a random capillary blood glucose greater than 127 mg/dL and a hemoglobin A1c greater than 5.7%.14 Forty-six (26%) women and 37 (35%) men reported a medical history of high blood pressure. One hundred twenty (42.1%) participants without a medical history of high blood pressure had a systolic blood pressure greater than 135 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 85 mm Hg.11
Eye Problems in AIAN Populations
The cause of visual impairment was cataract in 4 persons, age-related maculopathy in 2 persons, glaucoma in 1 person, and multifocal choroiditis in 1 person. One participant with visual impairment refused the full eye examination. Ocular hypertension was uncommon. Open-angle glaucoma was common, and all participants with glaucoma had "low-tension glaucoma," defined as an intraocular pressure less than 22 mm Hg. No cases of primary angle-closure suspect, primary angle closure, primary angle-closure glaucoma, or pseudo-exfoliation were found. Other common conditions included age-related maculopathy (16.9%), cataract (12.2%), and diabetic retinopathy (6.0% overall). No participants had clinically significant macular edema from diabetic retinopathy.
Causes of Poor Vision (20/40 or Worse) in Either Eye
Determining prevalence information is an important first step toward meeting the Healthy Vision 2010 objective of decreasing the impact of blindness from diabetes and glaucoma, especially in minority groups such as American Indians/Alaska Natives. Eye and vision problems are the second leading cause of impairment in AIAN populations.25 However, little information exists about the causes of visual impairment and the most common eye problems in AIAN populations.
Visual Impairment
Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension
Other Vision Studies in AIAN Populations
Refractive Error
Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
Conclusions
This study was supported by the American Glaucoma Society, Alcon, Allergan, and the National Eye Institute (grant NEI 1 K23 EY0155501-01 to S.L.M.), the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation (grant to C.A.J.), the Center for Healthy Communities (grant to T.M.B. and S.L.M), the Peel Medical Research Trust (grant to B. E.), and the TFC Frost Charitable Trust (grant to B. E.). This study was presented in part at the 14th Annual Meeting of the American Glaucoma Society, Sarasota, Fla, March 47, 2004. We thank Shaban Demirel, Peter Francis, Cindy Blachly, Judy Thompson, Kathryn Sherman, Douglas Romero, and Karin Novitsky for assistance with data collection.
Human Participant Protection
Peer Reviewed Note. Chris A. Johnson is a consultant for Welch Allyn and receives research support from Welch Allyn and Carl Zeiss Meditec, commercial representatives for the frequency-doubling technology perimeter.
Contributors Accepted for publication December 30, 2004.
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