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Indigenous Eye Health in the Americas: The Burden of Vision Impairment and Ocular Diseases

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  • João Marcello Furtado

    (Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA
    Division of Ophthalmology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14015-010, Brazil
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Arthur Gustavo Fernandes

    (Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
    Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Juan Carlos Silva

    (Independent Researcher, Bogota 110111, Colombia)

  • Sandra Del Pino

    (Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA)

  • Carolina Hommes

    (Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA)

Abstract

Review of the burden of vision impairment and blindness and ocular disease occurrence in Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. We systematically reviewed findings of the frequency of vision impairment and blindness and/or frequency of ocular findings in Indigenous groups. The database search yielded 2829 citations, of which 2747 were excluded. We screened the full texts of 82 records for relevance and excluded 16. The remaining 66 articles were examined thoroughly, and 25 presented sufficient data to be included. Another 7 articles derived from references were included, summing a total of 32 studies selected. When considering adults over 40 years old, the highest frequencies of vision impairment and blindness in Indigenous Peoples varied from 11.1% in high-income North America to 28.5% in tropical Latin America, whose rates are considerably higher than those in the general population. Most of the ocular diseases reported were preventable and/or treatable, so blindness prevention programs should focus on accessibility to eye examinations, cataract surgeries, control of infectious diseases, and spectacles distribution. Finally, we recommend actions in six areas of attention towards improving the eye health in Indigenous Peoples: access and integration of eye services with primary care; telemedicine; customized propaedeutics; education on eye health; and quality of data.

Suggested Citation

  • João Marcello Furtado & Arthur Gustavo Fernandes & Juan Carlos Silva & Sandra Del Pino & Carolina Hommes, 2023. "Indigenous Eye Health in the Americas: The Burden of Vision Impairment and Ocular Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3820-:d:1075872
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mansberger, S.L. & Romero, F.C. & Smith, N.H. & Johnson, C.A. & Cioffi, G.A. & Edmunds, B. & Choi, D. & Becker, T.M., 2005. "Causes of visual impairment and common eye problems in northwest American Indians and Alaska Natives," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(5), pages 881-886.
    2. Shahmir H. Ali & Tim Foster & Nina Lansbury Hall, 2018. "The Relationship between Infectious Diseases and Housing Maintenance in Indigenous Australian Households," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, December.
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