Age and Sex Standardized Prevalence of Corneal Opacity and Its Determinants; Tehran Geriatric Eye Study (TGES)

Hassan  Hashemi; Reza  Pakzad; Mohamadreza  Aghamirsalim; Abbasali  Yekta; Mohammad Mehdi  Sadoughi; Nima  Norouzikhiabani; Abolfazl  Jafarzadehpour; Roghayeh  Esmaieli; Mehdi  Khabazkhoob

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i3.8941

Hassan Hashemi Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
Reza Pakzad Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim Translational Ophthalmology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abbasali Yekta Department of Optometry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Mehdi Sadoughi Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shahid Labbafinezhad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sci-ences, Tehran, Iran
Nima Norouzikhiabani Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
Abolfazl Jafarzadehpour Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
Roghayeh Esmaieli Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Teh-ran, Iran
Mehdi Khabazkhoob Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i3.8941

Keywords: Corneal opacity; Prevalence; Age-sex-standardized; Geriatric

Abstract

Background: We aimed to determine the age and sex standardized prevalence of corneal opacity and its determinants

Methods: The Tehran Geriatric Eye Study (TGES) is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted on 3791 subjects aged above 60 yr in Tehran, Iran (2019) selected using stratified random cluster sampling. After sampling, all subjects underwent complete ophthalmic, optometric, and eye examinations.

Results: The 3310 participated in the study, of whom the data of 3284 were analyzed. The age and sex standardized prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI) of corneal opacity in at least one eye, both eyes, and one eye was 9.58% (95% CI: 8.50 to 10.79), 5.52% (95% CI: 4.71 to 6.45), and 4.07% (95% CI: 3.35 to 4.94), respectively. The mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) according to LogMar were worse in subjects with corneal opacity (both P<0.001). According to multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex (OR: 1.98; P: 0.003), age>80 yr (OR: 2.05; P: 0.004), and lack of insurance coverage (OR: 1.87; P: 0.004) increased the odds and high school education (OR: 0.68; P: 0.003) reduced the odds of corneal opacity. Among the study variables, sex was the most important determinant of corneal opacity (standardized beta: 0.126).

Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of corneal opacity in the geriatric population. Considering the increasing trend of population aging in Iran, attention should be paid to prioritizing public health policies to estimate resources required for providing comprehensive corneal services and improving geriatric eye health.