Evidence mapPaperPMID 39340236Full record

ArticleActa ophthalmologica2025

Global certification of visual impairment registries: A scoping review.

Laura N Cushley, Benedict Leonard-Hawkhead, Andrew Jonathan Jackson, Tunde Peto

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Acta ophthalmologica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Laura N CushleyCentre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0697-8854
Benedict Leonard-HawkheadCentre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Andrew Jonathan JacksonDepartment of Ophthalmology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
Tunde PetoCentre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6265-0381

Funding

Belfast Association for the BlindBelfast Health and Social Care Trust Research Charitable Funds
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVisual impairment is a global problem which is predicted to rise in the coming years. Some of the biggest causes of visual impairment globally include uncorrected refractive error, cataract and age-related macular degeneration. People with a visual impairment often require support and so many countries hold registers of visual impairment. These registers can sit at a national, regional or local level. This scoping review aims to identify which countries hold visual impairment registries and have published data from them.

methodsMedline All, Embase and EBSCOHost were searched using several search terms after consulting an information specialist. All papers after the year 2000 were included in the scoping review. All results are shown using a PRISMA diagram and presented narratively.

resultsThe total number of articles and papers identified was 1266; after screening and review, 57 articles were included in the review from 2000 to 2024. These articles came from 19 different countries and encompassed national, regional and local visual impairment databases. Many countries cited age-related macular degeneration as the major cause of blindness with diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma following. In less economically developed countries, refractive error was the main cause of sight loss. There were papers which focused on specific eye conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy or on specific cohorts including working-age population and children. The leading causes of blindness in children appeared to be inherited retinal diseases, albinism and cerebral visual impairment.

conclusionCertification of visual impairment is held differently across the world. There is commonality among different countries regarding the major causes of visual impairment in both adults and children. The importance of holding visual impairment registers to support people with a visual impairment and to plan services is essential.

Indexed as

Global HealthRegistriesBlindnessCertificationHumansPersons with Visual DisabilitiesVision DisordersVision, LowVisual Acuitycertificationglobalpartial sightscoping reviewsight impairmentvisual impairment

Identifiers

PMID39340236
PMCPMC11704824

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.