ArticleBMC ophthalmology2022
Severity of age-related macular degeneration at first presentation in Bhutan: a 3-year national study.
Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review: Virtual-reality-based techniques for human exercises and health improvement.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- Vision-Related Patient-Reported Outcomes in Randomized Controlled Trials of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review.Ophthalmology science · 2026Review
- Fast nanoDSF Tear Fluid Profiling: Toward Diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Biofeedback Fixation Training in the Rehabilitation of Patients with Geographic Atrophy.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The Amsler Grid in Everyday Practice: A Review of Its Role and Limitations in Primary Care.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- Hyperreflective Retinal Foci (HRF): Definition and Role of an Invaluable OCT Sign.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Global burden of age-related macular degeneration (1990-2021): trends, age-sex disparities, and socioeconomic dynamics from the GBD study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Full-Thickness Macular Hole Formation After Intravitreal Faricimab Injection for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.International medical case reports journal · 2025Article
- Pattern and Prevalence of Retinal Vein Occlusion in Bhutan: A 3-Year National Survey at Vitreoretinal Clinics.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2024Article
- Profile of Patients Treated with Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections in Bhutan.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMedical services are still developing in Bhutan. There is no published national report on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We therefore aim to determine the demographic characteristics and severity of AMD at first presentation among Bhutanese patients attending their recently inaugurated vitreoretinal (VR) clinics over a 3-year national survey, and to inform national health policy to develop suitable health program to prevent AMD-related blindness and visual impairment.
methodsA retrospective cross-sectional consecutive case series study was conducted on all new AMD cases in Bhutan. If a patient presented with asymmetrical AMD, the eye with more severe AMD was considered. If both the eyes had the same severity one eye was chosen randomly. Collection of demographic data and clinical details including diagnostic testing (fundus photography, OCT and fluorescent angiography) and clinical staging were performed.
resultsOf 521 new AMD patients aged 71.9 ± 11.3 years, 306/521 (58.7%) were males (p = 0.005). At their first presentation, 234/521 patients (44.9%) already had late-stage AMD. Importantly, 69/234 patients (29.5%), that is half of total neovascular AMD (nAMD) patients, had disciform scars (DS) which were beyond treatment, and 7/234 patients (3.0%) had geographic atrophy (GA). Seven patients had retinal pigment epithelium tear at presentation. Fourteen of nineteen polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients were younger than 50 years.
conclusionsHalf of nAMD cases presented as DS not amenable to the treatment. Many potentially treatable nAMD patients had already lost central vision and were legally blind. Young people with PCV losing vision early in life with longer morbidity-affected life and socio-economic burden was concerning. GA and DS cases need visual rehabilitation to improve their QoL. Incorporating a screening program for AMD with effective health education, and maintaining a national AMD Registry, would potentially lower AMD-related blindness and visual impairment.
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