Healthc Inform Res.  2024 Apr;30(2):162-167. 10.4258/hir.2024.30.2.162.

Prevalence of Selected Ophthalmic Diseases Using a Smartphone-Based Fundus Imaging System in Quang Tri and Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

• Kim J
• Yoon S
• Kim HYS

• KMID: 2555216
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2024.30.2.162

Abstract

Objectives
This study investigated the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases in Quang Tri and Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, utilizing a smartphone-based fundus imaging (SBFI) system.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included nearly 10,000 patients who visited community health centers between July and August 2019. All participants underwent visual acuity testing and fundus imaging. We collected demographic data and medical histories, and fundus images were captured using the EYELIKE system. Data were compiled on an online platform, allowing clinicians from other regions to make diagnoses.
Results
The study revealed significant variations in visual acuity and the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases between the two regions. Quang Tri had a higher proportion of individuals with good eyesight compared to Thai Nguyen. In Quang Tri, nearly 50% of the population had media haze, while in Thai Nguyen, about one-third of the population was affected. The prevalence of glaucomatous optic nerve and age-related macular degeneration was approximately 1% higher in Quang Tri than in Thai Nguyen. These findings provide valuable insights into the eye health status of these regions, indicating that eye health in Quang Tri was poorer than in Thai Nguyen.
Conclusions
The prevalence rates of ophthalmic conditions in this study were within the expected ranges compared to those in other Asian countries, though they were somewhat low. The SBFI method, being simpler and more efficient than the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness, offers a promising approach for measuring and estimating the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases.

Keyword

Cross-Sectional Studies, Visual Acuity, Cataract, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy

Figure

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  Figure 1 EYELIKE digital ophthalmoscope.

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  Figure 2 Remote diagnosis system used in Vietnam. CAM: Camera (EYELIKE), IDC: Internet Data Center.

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  Figure 3 Structure of the EYELIKE system in this study. CHC/VC: Community Health Center/Vision Center, NGO: non-governmental organization.

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  Figure 4 Prevalence of major diseases in Quang Tri and Thai Nguyen, Vietnam (cases: eyes).

Reference

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