02560nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001653001400042653002300056653001800079653001900097653001100116653001500127653002600142653001600168653002200184653001500206653001700221653001100238653002900249100001900278700001600297700001600313700001400329700001300343245009300356856007000449300001100519490000700530520167100537022001402208       2012                            d10aBlindness10aEducational Status10aGlobal health10aHealth Surveys10aHumans10aPrevalence10aSocioeconomic Factors10aVision, Low10aVisual impairment10aInequality10aSocial Class10aIncome10aGender and ethnic groups1 aUlldemolins AR1 aLansingh VC1 aValencia LG1 aCarter MJ1 aEckert K00aSocial inequalities in blindness and visual impairment: a review of social determinants.  uhttp://www.ijo.in/temp/IndianJOphthalmol605368-2100511_055005.pdf  a368-750 v603 a<p>Health inequities are related to social determinants based on gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, living in a specific geographic region, or having a specific health condition. Such inequities were reviewed for blindness and visual impairment by searching for studies on the subject in PubMed from 2000 to 2011 in the English and Spanish languages. The goal of this article is to provide a current review in understanding how inequities based specifically on the aforementioned social determinants on health influence the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness. With regards to gender inequality, women have a higher prevalence of visual impairment and blindness, which cannot be only reasoned based on age or access to service. Socioeconomic status measured as higher income, higher educational status, or non-manual occupational social class was inversely associated with prevalence of blindness or visual impairment. Ethnicity and race were associated with visual impairment and blindness, although there is general confusion over this socioeconomic position determinant. Geographic inequalities and visual impairment were related to income (of the region, nation or continent), living in a rural area, and an association with socioeconomic and political context was suggested. While inequalities related to blindness and visual impairment have rarely been specifically addressed in research, there is still evidence of the association of social determinants and prevalence of blindness and visual impairment. Additional research should be done on the associations with intermediary determinants and socioeconomic and political context.</p>
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