Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

The epidemiology of age related eye diseases in Asia.

Wong TY, Loon SC, Saw SM

Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street, Victoria 3002, Australia. twong@unimelb.edu.au

In the past decade, several large population based studies have provided new information on the prevalence of visual impairment and the major age related eye diseases in Asia. These include epidemiological studies from India, Taiwan, Mongolia, Singapore, and Japan. In particular, the epidemiology of refractive errors and glaucoma has been well characterised, providing insights not only into the public health implications of these conditions, but also into anatomical changes of the eye with ageing. In contrast, there are few well conducted population based studies on diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration in Asia, two conditions that are likely to be important causes of blindness in the future.

Published 20 March 2006 in Br J Ophthalmol, 90(4): 506-11.
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