ArticlePloS one2022
Blindness and visual impairment and their causes in India: Results of a nationally representative survey.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 63 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
63 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 132 citations in OpenAlex.
- Barriers and Enablers to Seeking Eye Care Among the Adult Indian Population: A Systematic Review.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2026Pooled it
- An Emerging Global Threat of Mycotic Keratitis Caused by Uncommon Fungal Species: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Translational vision science & technology · 2025Pooled it
- Risk factors for corneal abrasions in Nepal: a community-based study.Eye (London, England) · 2024Trial
- Twelve-Months Follow-Up Postmarket Study of a Hydrophobic Intraocular Lens Using a Preloaded Automated Injector in an Indian Population.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2022Trial
- Corneal Astigmatism Outcomes After Simultaneous Pterygium Excision Using The Bare Sclera Technique and Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery: Protocol for a Prospective Single-Arm Pre-Post Interventional Cohort Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Health seeking behaviours of those accessing primary Eye care services in Tamil Nadu, India.Eye (London, England) · 2026Article
- Strategies for strengthening eye care in India: a consensus-based recommendations.The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia · 2026Review
- Article
- Reverse endothelial scraping technique for refractory deep infectious keratitis: Novel surgical technique and outcome evaluation.Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Eye banking in India: Present status, goals, and prospects for a future-ready ecosystem.The Indian journal of medical research · 2026Article
- Eye banking in India: Planning for 2050.Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Article
- Microbiological spectrum and probability of transmission of infection from ocular tissues of enucleated eyes harvested from septicemic donors.World journal of transplantation · 2026Article
- Partnership models in eye banking - Impact and relevance in Indian context.Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2026Review
- Apps as eyes: Harnessing tech for visually impaired persons.Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2026Article
- Validity and Reliability of WHOeyes Application in Community-based Visual Acuity Screening Program.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine · 2026Article
- Surgical capacity in ophthalmology: the unmet need for sustainable solutions.Eye (London, England) · 2026Review
- Study of vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) in individuals with visual impairment at a teaching institution of North India.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2026Article
- Patterns and Causes of Adult Blindness in a Tertiary Ophthalmic Center in Somalia: The Burden of Trauma-Related Visual Loss.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Article
- Cataract Management in the Modern Era: Therapeutic Advances and Unmet Needs.Current pharmaceutical design · 2026Review
3 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionAvoidable blindness is a significant public health problem in India. Nationally representative RAAB surveys (Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness) are being conducted periodically in the country to know the current status of blindness in the country. The current study describes the findings from the RAAB survey conducted during 2015-19 in India. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted across the entire country among persons aged 50 years and above using RAAB version 6 methodology. Presenting and pinhole visual acuity was recorded followed by lens examination using a torchlight. In order to estimate the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in overall population in India, district weights were assigned to each of the 31 surveyed districts and the prevalence was standardized using the RAAB software.
resultsThe overall weighted, age-gender standardized, prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity <3/60 in better eye) in population aged ≥50 years was 1.99% (95% CI 1.94%, 2.13%) and of visual impairment (VI) (presenting visual acuity <6/12 in better eye) was 26.68% (95% CI 26.57-27.17%). On multivariate analysis, adjusted odds ratio showed that blindness was associated with age ≥ 80 years (OR = 20.3, 95% CI: 15.6-26.4) and being illiterate (OR = 5.6, 95% CI: 3.6-8.9). Blindness was not found to be significantly associated with either gender or locality.
conclusionThe results of the survey demonstrate that currently more than one fourth of persons aged 50 years and above are visually impaired (PVA<6/12 in better eye) in India. The prevalence of blindness among them is 1.99%, and older age and illiteracy are significantly associated with blindness. Major causes of blindness included cataract (66.2%), corneal opacity (CO) (8.2%), cataract surgical complications (7.2%), posterior segment disorders (5.9%) and glaucoma (5.5%). The proportion of blindness and visual impairment that is due to avoidable causes include 92.9% and 97.4% respectively.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.