Meghrigian Institute Published in American Journal of Ophthalmology International
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YEREVAN, Armenia — The Garo Meghrigian Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology (Meghrigian Institute) at the Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR) of the Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) has published a new article titled “Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB): a 15-year follow-up in Gegharkunik province of Armenia” in the American Journal of Ophthalmology (AJO) International. AJO International is an open access peer-reviewed journal with a site score of 6.5 committed to fostering a global and international exchange of knowledge in ophthalmology and visual science. It serves a diverse and extensive global readership, significantly influencing and shaping advancements in eye care worldwide. The study was authored by Aida Giloyan (MPH ’07), M.S.; Vahe Khachadourian (MPH ’11), M.D., Ph.D.; Tsovinar Harutyunyan (MPH ’99), Ph.D.; Naira Khachatryan (MPH ’97), M.D, DrPH; and Varduhi Petrosyan, M.S., Ph.D.
The study assesses the changes in the prevalence of visual impairment/blindness, cataract surgical coverage, visual outcomes after cataract surgery, and main barriers to cataract surgery among the population aged 50 years and older in the Gegharkunik province of Armenia from 2003-04 to 2019 using Rapid Assessment of Cataract Surgical Services (RACSS) and Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) methodologies developed at the International Center for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Based on the results from the needs assessment in 2004, the Meghrigian Institute implemented an intervention strengthening the primary and secondary level ophthalmic services in Gegharkunik, the poorest province in Armenia at the time, with support from the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF)/SightFirst grant, which aimed to reduce avoidable blindness. One of the elements of the intervention was establishing the Lions Regional Ophthalmic Unit (LROU) in the town of Sevan. LROU has become a model of organization and delivery of regional ophthalmic services in other provinces. To date, LROU has served around 54,562 visits, treated 23,172 people, and performed 7,361 surgeries for free or at a cost much lower than in Yerevan, making eye care more accessible and affordable.
The surveys included 1,787 people in RACSS and 1,099 in RAAB. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of bilateral blindness decreased from 2.0% to 1.4%, while severe visual impairment decreased from 5.2% to 2.2% and moderate visual impairment from 16.0% to 7.3% between 2003-04 and 2019. Untreated cataracts contributed to 71.9% and 40.9% of all blindness cases in 2003-04 and 2019, respectively. The cataract surgical coverage at the threshold <6/18 improved from 23.7% in 2003-04 to 64.8% in 2019. Both surveys mentioned cost as the most common barrier to cataract surgery.
The intervention to strengthen primary and secondary ophthalmic care in Gegharkunik province has proven to be effective in decreasing visual impairment and blindness among people living in the province.
The Meghrigian Institute conducted both the surveys and the intervention with financial support from LCIF.
The AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.
