RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness: looking back, looking forward
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 1549
OP 1552
DO 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-314015
VO 103
IS 11
A1 Mactaggart, Islay
A1 Limburg, Hans
A1 Bastawrous, Andrew
A1 Burton, Matthew J
A1 Kuper, Hannah
YR 2019
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/103/11/1549.abstract
AB The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness, or RAAB, is a relatively simple and low-cost survey methodology to provide data on the prevalence and causes of visual loss. The aim of this article is to reflect on the achievements and challenges of RAAB, and to describe the future developments that are needed to ensure that it remains a relevant and widely used tool. To date, at least 331 RAABs have been undertaken in 79 countries, and these surveys provide an important source of information on visual loss at both the local and global level. A RAAB repository has been developed which includes the site and date of RAABs undertaken, and, where authors have agreed, the core indicators, reports or even raw data from the survey. This dataset has already been used for meta-analyses, and there are further opportunities for its use. Despite these achievements, there are core areas in which RAAB needs to be strengthened so that the full benefits of undertaking the survey can be reaped. Key developments of RAAB are underway, and will include greater use of mobile technologies using a cloud-based platform to enable both digital data collection, real-time survey reviews, reporting and analysis, and a greater emphasis on using the data for planning.