Blindness and visual impairment in an American urban population. The Baltimore Eye Survey

J. M. Tielsch, A. Sommer, K. Witt, J. Katz and R. M. Royall
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Data on the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in multiracial urban populations of the United States are not readily available. The Baltimore Eye Survey was designed to address this lack of information and provide estimates of prevalence in age-race subgroups that had not been well studied in the past. A population-based sample of 5300 blacks and whites from east Baltimore, Md, received an ophthalmologic screening examination that included detailed visual acuity measurements. Blacks had, on average, a twofold excess prevalence of blindness and visual impairment than whites, irrespective of definition. Rates rose dramatically with age for all definitions of vision loss, but there was no difference in prevalence by sex. More than 50% of subjects improved their presenting vision after refractive correction, with 7.5% improving three or more lines. Rates in Baltimore are as high or higher than those reported from previous studies. National projections indicate that greater than 3 million persons are visually impaired, 890,000 of whom are bilaterally blind by US definitions.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Prevalence and Causes of Low Vision and Blindness in an Urban Malay Population: The Singapore Malay Eye Study
Wong et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2008;126:1091-1099.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visual Impairment, Causes of Vision Loss, and Falls: The Singapore Malay Eye Study
Lamoreux et al.
IOVS 2008;49:528-533.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Visual Status of Older Persons Residing in Nursing Homes
Owsley et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:925-930.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The 100 Most Frequently Cited Articles in Ophthalmology Journals
Ohba et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:952-960.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Correctable Visual Impairment in an Elderly Chinese Population in Taiwan: The Shihpai Eye Study
Kuang et al.
IOVS 2007;48:1032-1037.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Correctable Visual Impairment Among Persons With Diabetes--United States, 1999-2004
JAMA 2007;297:34-36.
FULL TEXT  

Apolipoprotein E Gene and Age-Related Maculopathy in Older Individuals: The Cardiovascular Health Study
Tikellis et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:68-73.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Economic Burden of Major Adult Visual Disorders in the United States
Rein et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:1754-1760.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of latanoprost on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in human trabecular meshwork cells.
Oh et al.
IOVS 2006;47:3887-3895.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Perceived Barriers to Care and Attitudes about Vision and Eye Care: Focus Groups with Older African Americans and Eye Care Providers.
Owsley et al.
IOVS 2006;47:2797-2802.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Uncorrected refractive errors and spectacle utilisation rate in Tehran: the unmet need
Fotouhi et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:534-537.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence and causes of blindness in the rural population of the Chennai Glaucoma Study.
Vijaya et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:407-410.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Analysis of expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in human ciliary body after latanoprost.
Oh et al.
IOVS 2006;47:953-963.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Nine-Year Refractive Changes in the Barbados Eye Studies
Wu et al.
IOVS 2005;46:4032-4039.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Poor Uptake of Cataract Surgery in Nursing Home Residents: The Salisbury Eye Evaluation in Nursing Home Groups Study
Friedman et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1581-1587.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Glaucoma: Macrocosm to Microcosm The Friedenwald Lecture
Quigley
IOVS 2005;46:2663-2670.
FULL TEXT  

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Self-Reported Visual Impairment Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Horowitz et al.
Research on Aging 2005;27:307-326.
ABSTRACT  

The Prevalence of Refractive Errors Among Adults in the United States, Western Europe, and Australia
The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group
Arch Ophthalmol 2004;122:495-505.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Trends in Visual Acuity Impairment in US Adults: The 1986-1995 National Health Interview Survey
Lee et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2004;122:506-509.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Impact of Bilateral Visual Impairment on Health-Related Quality of Life: the Blue Mountains Eye Study
Chia et al.
IOVS 2004;45:71-76.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Five-Year Incidence of Bilateral Cause-Specific Visual Impairment in the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project
Dimitrov et al.
IOVS 2003;44:5075-5081.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Why HID headlights bother older drivers
Mainster and Timberlake
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2003;87:113-117.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of blindness and low vision in Malaysian population: results from the National Eye Survey 1996
Zainal et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2002;86:951-956.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Factors associated with undercorrected refractive errors in an older population: the Blue Mountains Eye Study
Thiagalingam et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2002;86:1041-1045.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of visual impairment in people aged 75 years and older in Britain: results from the MRC trial of assessment and management of older people in the community
Evans et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2002;86:795-800.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Binocular Visual Acuity Summation and Inhibition in an Ocular Epidemiological Study: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study
Azen et al.
IOVS 2002;43:1742-1748.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: Baseline Factors That Predict the Onset of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Gordon et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:714-720.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Blindness and visual impairment in the Americas and the Caribbean
Munoz and West
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2002;86:498-504.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Blindness, Visual Impairment and the Problem of Uncorrected Refractive Error in a Mexican-American Population: Proyecto VER
Munoz et al.
IOVS 2002;43:608-614.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Socioeconomic status and blindness
Dandona and Dandona
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2001;85:1484-1488.
FULL TEXT  

Correction of refractive error in the Victorian population: the feasibility of "off the shelf" spectacles
Maini et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2001;85:1283-1286.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalance of Functional Blindness, Visual Impairment, and Related Functional Deficits Among Elderly Mexican Americans
DiNuzzo et al.
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 2001;56:M548-551.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sensory Impairments and Subjective Well-Being Among Aged African American Persons
Bazargan et al.
J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2001;56:P268-278.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visual Impairment, Age-Related Cataract, and Mortality
Wang et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1186-1190.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Development of the Melbourne Low-Vision ADL Index: A Measure of Vision Disability
Haymes et al.
IOVS 2001;42:1215-1225.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

World blindness: a 21st century perspective
Taylor and Keeffe
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2001;85:261-266.
FULL TEXT  

Monocular versus Binocular Visual Acuity as Measures of Vision Impairment and Predictors of Visual Disability
Rubin et al.
IOVS 2000;41:3327-3334.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visual Impairment and Hip Fracture
Ivers et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:633-639.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment in a Population of Older Americans: The Salisbury Eye Evaluation Study
Munoz et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:819-825.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Surgical Undertreatment of Glaucoma in Black Beneficiaries of Medicare
Devgan et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:253-256.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Age-Specific Causes of Bilateral Visual Impairment
Weih et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:264-269.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Risk Factors for Late Presentation in Chronic Glaucoma
Fraser et al.
IOVS 1999;40:2251-2257.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Public Health Need vs Market Demand for Ophthalmologists: What Are Our Priorities?
Bass
Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:930-930.
FULL TEXT  

Causes of blindness in the adult population of the Republic of Ireland
Munier et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 1998;82:630-633.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of serious eye disease and visual impairment in a north London population: population based, cross sectional study
Reidy et al.
BMJ 1998;316:1643-1646.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Age-Specific Prevalence and Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment in an Older Population: The Rotterdam Study
Klaver et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:653-658.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Characterization and Comparison of the Human and Mouse GLC1A Glaucoma Genes
Fingert et al.
Genome Res 1998;8:377-384.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effectiveness of screening older people for impaired vision in community setting: systematic review of evidence from randomised controlled trials
Smeeth and Iliffe
BMJ 1998;316:660-663.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visual impairment and socioeconomic factors
Livingston et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 1997;81:574-577.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Prevalence of Blindness and Visual Impairment among Nursing Home Residents in Baltimore
Tielsch et al.
NEJM 1995;332:1205-1209.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Protecting Vision
Klein and Klein
NEJM 1995;332:1228-1229.
FULL TEXT  

Preventing blindness worldwide
Potter
BMJ 1994;309:682-683.
FULL TEXT  

Causes of Visual Impairment and Common Eye Problems in Northwest American Indians and Alaska Natives
Mansberger et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2005;95:881-886.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT