Prevalence and Pattern of Geographic Atrophy in Asia: The Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium.

Purpose: Although there have been many population-based studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), only limited information is available in Asia on the epidemiology of geographic atrophy (GA). We aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of GA through an analysis of multiple studies conducted within the Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium (AEEC).

Design: Cross-sectional meta-analyses.

Assessing the accuracy and feasibility of a refractive error screening program conducted by school teachers in pre-primary and primary schools in Thailand.

Introduction: As part of the development of a system for the screening of refractive error in Thai children, this study describes the accuracy and feasibility of establishing a program conducted by teachers.

Objective: To assess the accuracy and feasibility of screening by teachers.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted in 17 schools in four provinces representing four geographic regions in Thailand.

Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in Thailand.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Thailand.

Methods: In this population-based study, data of participants in the Thailand National Survey of Visual Impairment in 2006-2007 were analyzed. Participants selected for this study were more than 50 years old, and were recruited from 42 districts of 21 provinces.

Diabetic retinopathy in Priest Hospital.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is common complication of DM and is one of the leading causes of visual loss in working age population in developed and developing countries. The known risk of retinopathy is directly related to the degree and duration of hyperglycemia. Priests are one of the disadvantageous groups because they cannot select their food and have poor access to health care.

Glaucoma care and clinical profile in Priest Hospital, Thailand.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, mechanism and status of glaucoma, and to investigate the magnitude of visual impairment from glaucoma and its relating factors in Buddhist priest and novices.

Material And Method: Cross-sectional study of 190 patients treated in Glaucoma service, Priest hospital was performed. One hundred thirty seven patients with glaucoma and suspected glaucoma had comprehensive ophthalmic examination included interview on medical and ocular history, visual acuity, applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, optic disc, visual field evaluation, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement (Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography; Stratus OCT).

Visual acuity in patients having foldable and non-foldable intra-ocular lens for cataract surgery.

Background: Intra-ocular lens (IOLs) is the most commonly use organ substitute worldwide. Question of different type of IOLs which would offer different post operative visual acuity (VA) has been asked.

Objectives: To compare the pre-operative and post operative visual acuity (VA) of cataract patients operated-patient and the use of non foldable and foldable IOLs in different age groups.

Visual acuity in patients having cataract surgery by different techniques.

Background: Question of different techniques of cataract surgery would offer different post-operative visual acuity (VA) has been asked.

Objectives: To compare the pre-and post-operative VA of cataract patients operated by different techniques as Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE), Phacoemulsification (PE), and Manual Phaco Fragmentation (MPF) and compare in different age groups.

Method: The post-operative visual acuity of cataract patients was collected from 72 hospitals in Bangkok and rural part of Thailand.

Eye health of priests and novices in rural area.

Background: Early detection and treatment of eye diseases is important to minimize visual morbidity and permanent visual loss in general and priests' population.

Objective: To evaluate eye health status, visual acuity and eye diseases of the priests and novices, to estimate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment, and to provide eye health education.

Material And Method: Between May 2006 and March 2007, the priests and novices in selected village (stratified population cluster random sampling) of 22 provinces in The First National Survey of Blindness and Visual Impairment Program in Thailand (TVIP) had their visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measured and eye examined by ophthalmic nurses.

Survey of refractive errors among Buddhist scripture, Dhamma-Bali and regular school of Buddhist novices in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

Background: Refractive errors that affect learning are common eye problems in children. Eye-screening for refractive errors in the children population is accepted as a cost-effective method in the prevention of such problems. The Department of Ophthalmology, Priest Hospital, conducted a visual screening program for the novices of the Buddhist Scripture Schools.

Eye health in the priests and novices in central Bangkok.

Background: Early detection and proper management of eye diseases in priests and novices is cost effective, and minimize serious ocular damage and permanent loss of vision. Therefore, the Department of Ophthalmology, Priest Hospital set-up an eye examination project for the priests and novices who came for physical examination. The laboratory test was part of the Sustained and Holistic Healthcare Program for Priests and Novices as Commemoration of His Majesty the King's 60 Years of Accession to the Throne.

The sustained and holistic health care program for the priests Commemoration of His Majesty the King's 60 Years Accession to the Throne (first phase: February to June 2006).

Objectives: To determine the health status and risk factors of the priests in 28 temples in central Bangkok.

Material And Method: Recruiting priests to answer health related questionnaire, then screening by laboratory testing and physical examination. Finally, setting an appointment to the specialists for consultation and special investigation in the suspected and abnormal cases.

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in relation to duration of diabetes mellitus in community hospitals of Lampang.

Three thousand and forty nine patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were examined in 13 community (district) hospitals in Lampang from January to December 2002. Complete eye examination with standard protocol was used to determine the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy. The prevalence of the background or non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (BDR or NPDR) was 18.