Steven L Mansberger ^1*, Francine C. Romero ², Nicole H Smith ³, Chris A Johnson ¹, George A Cioffi ¹, Beth Edmunds ¹, Dongseok Choi ³, Thomas M Becker ³

¹ Devers Eye Institute/Discoveries In Sight, Portland OR
² Northern Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center
³ Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health Science University

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: smansberger{at}discoveriesinsight.org.

	Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Little information exists regarding the causes of visual impairment and the most common eye problems in American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN). METHODS: We randomly sampled AI/AN over the age of 40 years from three tribes within the Northwest region. RESULTS: We enrolled 288 participants. The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness was 3.1% (95%CI, 1.0-5.0) and 0.3% (95%CI, 0.0-1.0), respectively. The prevalence of under corrected refractive error for distance and near vision was 18% (95%CI, 13.6-22.6) and 30.6% (95%CI, 25.2-36.0), respectively. Age-related maculopathy and cataract were the most common causes of visual impairment. The prevalence of glaucoma was 6.2% (95%CI, 2.6-7.8) and no patient with glaucoma had intraocular pressure greater than 20 mm Hg. Ocular hypertension occurred in 0.004% (95%CI, 0-1.1) of participants. CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher prevalence of visual impairment and normal-tension glaucoma, as well as a lower prevalence of ocular hypertension, when compared to previous results in other racial/ethnic groups. AI/AN have a need for spectacle correction. Future interventions in AI/AN should include provision of spectacles for refractive error, detecting glaucoma, and preventing visual impairment from age-related maculopathy and cataracts.

Key Words: Native Americans

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Lillie-Blanton and Y. Roubideaux Understanding and Addressing the Health Care Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives Am J Public Health, May 1, 2005; 95(5): 759 - 761. [Full Text] [PDF]