ArticleEuropean journal of ophthalmology2026
The population characteristics and prevalence of visual impairment in a Southern European population.
Article in European journal of ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Estimating the costs and quality of life impact of vision loss in the population aged 50-80 years in Malta: evidence from The Malta Eye Study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
PurposeTo describe the population characteristics, prevalence, and causes of visual impairment in Maltese adults aged 50-80 years.MethodsThe Malta Eye Study invited 4,006 random adults aged 50-80 for eye exams and interviews at the Malta and Gozo state hospitals (September 2021-July 2024). Tests included visual acuity, refraction, anthropometry, clinical measurements, tonometry, slit-lamp and dilated fundus exams, retinal imaging, and cognitive screening. Interviews covered sociodemographic, medical, ocular, and medication histories.ResultsA representative sample of 1,794 individuals (44.8% turnout) were assessed. Visual impairment in either eye was found in 23.9% (95%CI 21.9%-25.9%), and bilateral impairment in 6.0% (95%CI 4.9%-7.2%). The most common causes in either eye were uncorrected/undercorrected refractive error (12.3%), amblyopia (5.0%), cataract (3.8%), pathological myopia (1.3%), diabetic retinopathy (0.8%), age-related macular degeneration (0.6%), and glaucoma (0.4%). Predictors of visual impairment included older age, lower education, diabetes requiring insulin and tablets, and dementia. Protective factors were sunglasses use and angiotensin receptor blocker therapy.ConclusionsAlthough overall visual impairment rates are favourable, this study highlights the need to strengthen screening and treatment services for avoidable causes, particularly by improving public optometry access, among older adults, socioeconomically vulnerable groups, and those with poorly controlled diabetes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
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.