[TimorLesteStudies] New research on presbyopia epidemiology in TL

[jennifer.drysdale at anu.edu.au]

Via ETAN:

> Health & Medicine Week
> 
> August 13, 2007
> 
> PRESBYOPIA EPIDEMIOLOGY;  New research on presbyopia epidemiology 
> from J. Ramke and co-authors summarized
> 
> A report, "Correction of refractive error and presbyopia in 
> Timor-Leste," is newly published data in British Journal of 
> Ophthalmology. In this recently published article, scientists in 
> Sydney, Australia conducted a study "To investigate the aspects of 
> spectacle correction of vision-impairing refractive error and 
> presbyopia in those aged >or=40 years in Timor-Leste. A 
> population-based cross-sectional survey with cluster random sampling 
> was used to select 50 clusters of 30 people. Those who had 
> uncorrected or undercorrected refractive error (presenting acuity 
> worse than 6/18, but at least 6/18 with pinhole), uncorrected or 
> undercorrected presbyopia (near vision worse than N8), and/or who 
> were using or had used spectacles were identified."
> 
> "Dispensing history, willingness to wear and willingness to pay for 
> spectacles were elicited. Of 1470 people enumerated, 1414 were 
> examined (96.2%). The "met refractive error need" in the sample was 
> 2.2%, and the "unmet refractive error need" was 11.7%. The 
> "refractive error correction coverage" was 15.7%. The "met presbyopic 
> need" was 11.5%, and the "unmet presbyopic need" was 32.3%. The 
> "presbyopia correction coverage" was 26.2%. Lower correction coverage 
> was associated with rural domicile, illiteracy and farming. Of the 
> sample, 96.0% were willing to wear spectacles correcting impaired 
> vision. Of these, 17.0% were willing to pay US$3 (pound 1.52, euro 
> 2.24) for spectacles, whereas 50.2% were unwilling to pay US$1 (pound 
> 0.51, euro 0.75). Women and rural dwellers were less likely to be 
> willing to pay at least US$1 for spectacles. Refractive error and 
> presbyopia correction coverage rates are low in Timor-Leste. There is 
> a large need for spectacles, especially for elderly and illiterate 
> people, farmers and rural dwellers: those least able to pay for 
> them," wrote J. Ramke and colleagues, .
> 
> The researchers concluded: "An equitable cross-subsidisation 
> spectacle system should be possible."
> 
> Ramke and colleagues published their study in British Journal of 
> Ophthalmology (Correction of refractive error and presbyopia in 
> Timor-Leste. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2007;91(7):860-6).
> 
> For more information, contact J. Ramke, The International Centre for 
> Eyecare Education, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
> 
> Publisher contact information for the British Journal of 
> Ophthalmology is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association 
> House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.
> 
> Keywords: Australia, Sydney, Presbyopia Epidemiology, Epidemiology, 
> Ophthalmology, Presbyopia, Refractive Errors.
> 
> This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from 
> staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Health & Medicine Week via 
NewsRx.com.
> 
> 
> etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan
> 
> ETAN welcomes your financial support. For more info: 
> http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm
> 
> John M. Miller         Internet: fbp at igc.org
> National Coordinator
> East Timor & Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
> PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873 USA
> Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
> Mobile phone: (917)690-4391  Skype: john.m.miller
> Web site: http://www.etan.org
> 
> Send a blank e-mail message to info at etan.org to find out
> how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet
> 
> etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan
> 
> 


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Health & Medicine Week

August 13, 2007

PRESBYOPIA EPIDEMIOLOGY;  New research on presbyopia epidemiology 
from J. Ramke and co-authors summarized

A report, "Correction of refractive error and presbyopia in 
Timor-Leste," is newly published data in British Journal of 
Ophthalmology. In this recently published article, scientists in 
Sydney, Australia conducted a study "To investigate the aspects of 
spectacle correction of vision-impairing refractive error and 
presbyopia in those aged >or=40 years in Timor-Leste. A 
population-based cross-sectional survey with cluster random sampling 
was used to select 50 clusters of 30 people. Those who had 
uncorrected or undercorrected refractive error (presenting acuity 
worse than 6/18, but at least 6/18 with pinhole), uncorrected or 
undercorrected presbyopia (near vision worse than N8), and/or who 
were using or had used spectacles were identified."

"Dispensing history, willingness to wear and willingness to pay for 
spectacles were elicited. Of 1470 people enumerated, 1414 were 
examined (96.2%). The "met refractive error need" in the sample was 
2.2%, and the "unmet refractive error need" was 11.7%. The 
"refractive error correction coverage" was 15.7%. The "met presbyopic 
need" was 11.5%, and the "unmet presbyopic need" was 32.3%. The 
"presbyopia correction coverage" was 26.2%. Lower correction coverage 
was associated with rural domicile, illiteracy and farming. Of the 
sample, 96.0% were willing to wear spectacles correcting impaired 
vision. Of these, 17.0% were willing to pay US$3 (pound 1.52, euro 
2.24) for spectacles, whereas 50.2% were unwilling to pay US$1 (pound 
0.51, euro 0.75). Women and rural dwellers were less likely to be 
willing to pay at least US$1 for spectacles. Refractive error and 
presbyopia correction coverage rates are low in Timor-Leste. There is 
a large need for spectacles, especially for elderly and illiterate 
people, farmers and rural dwellers: those least able to pay for 
them," wrote J. Ramke and colleagues, .

The researchers concluded: "An equitable cross-subsidisation 
spectacle system should be possible."

Ramke and colleagues published their study in British Journal of 
Ophthalmology (Correction of refractive error and presbyopia in 
Timor-Leste. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2007;91(7):860-6).

For more information, contact J. Ramke, The International Centre for 
Eyecare Education, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Publisher contact information for the British Journal of 
Ophthalmology is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association 
House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

Keywords: Australia, Sydney, Presbyopia Epidemiology, Epidemiology, 
Ophthalmology, Presbyopia, Refractive Errors.

This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from 
staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.


etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan

ETAN welcomes your financial support. For more info: 
http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm

John M. Miller         Internet: fbp at igc.org
National Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391  Skype: john.m.miller
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info at etan.org to find out
how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet

etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan

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