Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Negros Island and Antique District, Philippines.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct rapid assessments of avoidable blindness to estimate the magnitude and causes of blindness in people aged >/=50 years in Negros Island and Antique district, Philippines. METHODS: Clusters of 50 people aged >/=50 years were sampled with probability proportionate to size. Households within clusters were selected through compact segment sampling. Visual acuity (VA) was measured with a tumbling "E" chart. Ophthalmologists examined people with VA/=6/60). Most of the cases of blindness (67% in Negros, 82% in Antique) and visual impairment (94% in Negros, 95% in Antique) were avoidable (ie, operated and unoperated cataract, refractive error and corneal scar). In Negros, 23% of eyes had a poor outcome after cataract surgery, and 13% in Antique. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of blindness in two areas in the Philippines was relatively low. Since most cases were avoidable, further reductions are possible