Location of the survey area.

<p>A) Map of Southern India (upper right inlet) showing location of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Nicobar is the southernmost district of the Indian subcontinent. B) Detailed map of Car-Nicobar Island.</p

Burden of Trachomatous Trichiasis in adults residing in Car Nicobar Island.

*<p>Per 1000 population.</p><p>TT = Trachomatous Trichiasis; CO = Corneal Opacity.</p

Comparative data on magnitude of active trachoma and trachomatous trichiasis in districts covered during 2006 and 2010 NPCB, India trachoma rapid assessment survey.

*<p>Ten districts of six previously hyper-endemic states of India covered during 2006–07 survey.</p>#<p>Car Nicobar district, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India covered during 2010 survey.</p><p>TT = Trachomatous trichiasis; TF = Trachoma Follicular; TI = Inflammatory stage of trachoma.</p

Distribution of children with signs of active trachoma infection & its related risk factors in Car Nicobar Island.

<p>TF = Trachoma Follicular; TI = Inflammatory stage of trachoma.</p

Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment in Urban Population of Delhi, India

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>To determine the prevalence, causes and associated demographic factors related to visual impairment amongst the urban population of New Delhi, India.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in East Delhi district using cluster random sampling methodology. This Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment (RAVI) survey involved examination of all individuals aged 40 years and above in 24 randomly selected clusters of the district. Visual acuity (VA) assessment and comprehensive ocular examination were done during the door-to-door survey. A questionnaire was used to collect personal and demographic information of the study population. Blindness and Visual Impairment was defined as presenting VA <3/60and <6/18 in the better eye, respectively. Descriptive statistics were computed along with multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine associated factors for visual impairment.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of 2421 subjects enumerated, 2331 (96.3%) were available for ophthalmic examination. Among those examined, 49.3% were males. The prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in the study population, was 11.4% (95% C.I. 10.1, 12.7) and that of blindness was 1.2% (95% C.I. 0.8, 1.6). Uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of VI accounting for 53.4% of all VI followed by cataract (33.8%). With multivariable logistic regression, the odds of having VI increased with age (OR= 24.6[95% C.I.: 14.9, 40.7]; p<0.001). Illiterate participants were more likely to have VI [OR= 1.5 (95% C.I.: 1.1,2.1)] when compared to educated participants.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The first implementation of the RAVI methodology in a North Indian population revealed that the burden of visual impairment is considerable in this region despite availability of adequate eye care facilities. Awareness generation and simple interventions like cataract surgery and provision of spectacles will help to eliminate the major causes of blindness and visual impairment in this region.</p></div

Categories and definition of blindness and visual impairment.

<p>Categories and definition of blindness and visual impairment.</p

Age and Gender Distribution of People with Blindness and Visual Impairment.

<p>VI = Visual Impairment</p><p>*Visual Impairment defined as Presenting visual acuity <6/18 in the better eye.</p><p>** Blindness as per WHO and Indian criteria defined as Presenting visual acuity < 3/60 and <6/60 in the better eye respectively.</p><p>Age and Gender Distribution of People with Blindness and Visual Impairment.</p

Prevalence of Visual Impairment stratified by age, gender and education.

<p>CI = Confidence Interval</p><p>*Visual Impairment defined as Presenting visual acuity <6/18 in better eye</p><p>Prevalence of Visual Impairment stratified by age, gender and education.</p

Use of traditional eye medicine and self-medication in rural India: A population-based study

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To determine the type and nature of traditional eye medicine (TEM), their sources and use and practices related to self-medication for ophthalmic diseases in a rural Indian population.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 25 randomly selected clusters of Rural Gurgaon, Haryana, India as part of CORE (Cornea Opacity Rural Epidemiological) study. In addition to comprehensive ophthalmic examination, health-seeking behavior and use of self-medication and TEM was assessed in the adult population using a semi-structured questionnaire. Physical verification of available ophthalmic medications in the enumerated households was conducted by the study team. Descriptive statistics were computed along with multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine associated factors for use of self-medication and TEM.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of the 2160 participants interviewed, 396 (18.2%) reported using ophthalmic medications without consulting an ophthalmologist, mainly for symptoms like watering (37.1%), redness (27.7%), itching (19.2%) and infection (13.6%). On physical verification of available eye drops that were being used without prescription, 26.4% participants were practicing self-medication. Steroid, expired/unlabeled and indigenous eye drops were being used by 151(26.5%), 120(21.1%) and 75 (13.2%) participants respectively. Additionally, 25.7% (529) participants resorted to home remedies like <i>‘kajal’(61</i>.<i>4%)</i>, honey (31.4%), ghee (11.7%) and rose water (9.1%).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Use of TEM is prevalent in this population. The rampant use of steroid eye drops without prescription along with use of expired or unlabelled eye drops warrants greater emphasis on safe eye care practices in this population. Public awareness and regulatory legislations must be implemented to decrease harmful effects arising due to such practices.</p></div

Steps of Multi-stage sampling employed for the study.

<p>Steps of Multi-stage sampling employed for the study.</p