@article {Rathinam463, author = {Sivakumar R Rathinam and Ramasamy Krishnadas and Rengapa Ramakrishnan and Ravilla D Thulasiraj and James M Tielsch and Joanne Katz and Alan L Robin and John H Kempen and for the Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey Research Group}, title = {Population-based prevalence of uveitis in Southern India}, volume = {95}, number = {4}, pages = {463--467}, year = {2011}, doi = {10.1136/bjo.2010.182311}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Purpose To estimate the prevalence of uveitis in rural Tamil Nadu, India.Methods Cluster sampling identified a population-based sample of 5150 persons ages 40 years and older, representative of three districts in Tamil Nadu, India. Each received a comprehensive dilated ocular examination by an ophthalmologist, and results were registered on forms requiring responses about the presence of ocular inflammatory signs and inflammatory diagnoses. Potential uveitis cases were confirmed by consensus of two uveitis specialists, upon review of study and medical records. Crude prevalence rates and prevalence rates age-adjusted to reflect the 2001 Tamil Nadu census population were calculated.Results Crude and age-adjusted prevalence rates for endogenous uveitis were 310/100 000 and 317/100 000. The corresponding rates for all ocular inflammation were 450 and 467/100 000. Males tended to have a greater prevalence than females in this population, and older persons tended to have higher prevalence than younger persons. The majority of cases of posterior uveitis and infectious endophthalmitis were visually compromised, but few among the cases of other forms of ocular inflammation were visually impaired.Conclusions The results suggest that nearly one in 200 persons in rural, South India has been affected by ocular inflammation in at least one eye by mid to late adulthood, about one in 330 if cases related to surgery or trauma are not included. Postsurgical endophthalmitis and posterior uveitis were associated with a high rate of vision loss. These results indicate that uveitis is an important cause of ocular morbidity and of vision loss in this population.}, issn = {0007-1161}, URL = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/95/4/463}, eprint = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/95/4/463.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of Ophthalmology} }