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With generous support from the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) and technical assistance from the IAPB South-East Asia, the Eye Department at Guido Valeres National Hospital, Ministry of Health Timor-Leste, has launched a nationwide survey on visual impairment among school children in Timor-Leste. This study aims to provide baseline data for the World Health Assembly (WHA) endorsed indicator related to refractive error coverage, which is currently unavailable. This information will help establish a target for 2030 regarding eye refractive error coverage (eREC) in Timor-Leste. Additionally, the survey results will inform policymakers about the current situation regarding visual impairment and highlight the need for strategic planning and policy implementation to address visual impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors. The findings will also aim to ensure the availability of quality optical dispensing services throughout the country.
Timor-Leste, which has been an independent state since 1999, is currently classified as one of the least developed countries, with a predominantly rural population. The country’s overall health indicators are quite poor. A RAAB study, conducted in 2016 with the support of Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF), provided essential data on eye health and revealed that the prevalence of refractive error among the older adult population (aged 50 years and older) was 4.9%. Of this group, 55% had uncorrected refractive errors. Additionally, the study found that 86.8% of those with presbyopia were not wearing any form of correction. However, there is no reliable data or studies available regarding visual impairment from refractive errors in the child population of Timor-Leste.
The WHO 74th World Health Assembly set two global targets for eye health for 2030: 40%-point increase in effective coverage of refractive error and 30%-point increase in effective coverage of cataract surgery. The targets address the leading causes of avoidable blindness and vision impairment and provide effective indicators to monitor global progress towards universal health coverage.
Specifically, the survey aims to:
The survey aims to enroll all school children studying grade 6 to 9 as a surrogate for age 9 to 15 years old children. A total of 1052 schools with grades 6 to 9 of all 13 districts of Timor Leste yield the sampling frame for the study. The sample size calculation was based on assumed prevalence of refractive error as 10%, with 90% response rate and 95% confidence limit and 1.6 design effect to adjust the class-based cluster of in an average 40 students. A total of 155 class-based clusters were selected to enroll adequate sample size of 52,00 student for the study.
Three teams, each consisting of an Optometrist, Optician, and enumerator, were trained for data collection. The principal investigator and consultant ophthalmologist, Dr. Marcelino Correia, supervised the data collection. The data collection was paperless. A tablet installed with data collection software was used to enter data, and collected data were uploaded to the cloud server after each cluster was completed. Till date, 30 clusters have been completed for data collection and are expected to be completed by mid-April 2025.
Stay tuned for more on this.
