Epidemiology Of Refractive Error In Dominica, West Indies.

Background: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological analysis of the prevalence refractive error in the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Uncorrected refractive error is a common cause of preventable blindness around the world 7-9. Several citizens of Dominica cannot afford or simply do not have access to the proper eye care':". Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanities (VOSH) provides eye care services in an attempt to reduced or eliminate the personal, cultural, economic affects of eye diseases and uncorrected refractive error. Cross-sectional studies and the epidemiology of refractive error across the world are also discussed in detail.
Methods: Data was gathered from a sample population of Dominicans who participated
as patients on a Michigan-VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanities) mission
in January of 2006. An extensive analysis of the data was tabulated along with a
thorough literature search regarding cross-sectional studies and the epidemiology of
refractive error.
Results: A high prevalence of hyperopia, presbyopia, compound hyperopic astigmatism,
and against-the-rule astigmatism was found. Conclusions: More plus lenses, plus bifocal addition lenses, and against-the-rule astigmatic glasses are especially necessary on a VOSH mission to care for the needs of the Dominican patients. Not only will the information from this study facilitate in the preparation and eventual Eye Care of patients in future VOSH missions, but it can be used as a base-line for further longitudinal studies regarding refractive error in Dominica.