National Blindness & Visual Impairment Survey 2015-2019
Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh)

Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment

Among people aged ≥ 50 years, the most important causes of blindness in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh were Cataract untreated (63.1%), Cataract surgery complication (10.9%) and Phthisis (8.7%). However the most important causes of visual impairment were Cataract untreated (66.2%) and Cataract surgery complication (11.5%). Most important cause of early visual impairment was uncorrected refracted error (77.3%).

Out of all causes of blindness, 63.1% causes were treatable, 8.7% causes were unavoidable and 28.2% were preventable. Among causes of visual impairment (PVA better eye <6/18), 6.5% were unavoidable, 17.3% were preventable and 76.2% causes were treatable. For moderate severe visual impairment (PVA better eye <6/18-3/60), 78.7% treatable, 15.2% preventable and 6.1% unavoidable.

Definition of various categories of visual impairment
Blindness

Presenting visual acuity < 3/60 in better eye

Severe Visual Impairment (SVI)

Presenting visual acuity < 6/60 – 3/60 in better eye

Moderate Visual Impairment (MVI)

Presenting visual acuity < 6/18 – 6/60 in better eye

Early Visual Impairment (EVI)

Presenting visual acuity < 6/12 – 6/18 in better eye

Moderate Severe Visual Impairment (MSVI)

Presenting visual acuity <6/18-3/60 in better eye

Visual Impairment

Presenting visual acuity < 6/18 in better eye

Functional Low Vision

A person with impairment of visual functioning even after treatment and/or standard refractive correction, and a visual acuity of less than 6/18 to light perception, or a visual field of less than 10 degree from the point of fixation.

Cataract Surgical Coverage (Person) indicates how many persons received cataract surgery (one or both eyes) among all who were bilaterally pinhole blind due to cataract.
The numerator includes persons with one operated and one pinhole blind eye and persons with bilateral (pseudo) aphakia. The denominator includes the numerator, plus persons bilaterally pinhole blind due to cataract. Besides this, the indicator can also be calculated separately for PinVA <6/60 and <6/18.

Cataract Surgical Coverage (Eye) measures the proportions of eyes pinhole blind due to cataract, which have been operated so far.
The numerator includes all (pseudo) aphakic eyes. The denominator includes the numerator, plus eyes pinhole blind due to cataract. Besides this, the indicator can also be calculated separately for PinVA <6/60 and <6/18.


Table : Causes of blindness& visual impairment in population aged ≥ 50 years in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

 BlindnessSVIMVIEVIMSVI VI FLV
Uncorrected refractive error 0.00.0 12.877.310.79.00.0
Aphakia un-corrected 0.02.61.00.31.21.00.0
Cataract untreated 63.158.9 67.817.566.866.20.0
Cataract surgery complication 10.920.59.92.811.611.532.5
Trachomatous corneal opacity 0.00.00.00.0 0.00.00.0
Non trachomatous corneal opacity 4.30.01.50.31.21.710.0
Phthisis 8.70.00.00.0 0.01.42.5
Glaucoma 4.32.61.00.31.21.712.5
Diabetic retinopathy 0.02.61.00.01.21.07.5
Age related macular degeneration 0.00.01.50.31.21.05.0
Other posterior segment disorders8.712.83.00.94.55.227.5
Globe/ CNS abnormalities 0.00.00.50.30.40.32.5