Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
To determine the prevalence of presbyopia and associated risk factors among Bangladeshi recipients of elderly social safety net payments who were not currently using mobile financial services (MFS) and demonstrated numeracy, dexterity and cognitive prerequisites for smartphone use during eligibility screening for the Transforming Households with Refraction and Innovative Financial Technology (THRIFT) trial. Accessing these payments requires use of online banking, as with a smartphone.
Design
Cross-sectional analysis of trial eligibility screening data.
Setting
Community-based screening conducted in two rural subdistricts in Kurigram District, Bangladesh.
Participants
Among 13 944 Old Age Allowance and Widows’ Allowance (WA) beneficiaries screened, 953 met trial eligibility criteria, including passing a smartphone readiness assessment and completing near vision examinations.
Primary and secondary outcome measures
Presbyopia, defined as binocular presenting near visual acuity of N6.3 or worse, correctable to at least N5 with near vision glasses and with distance vision of ≥6/12 in both eyes.
Results
Among 953 participants (mean age 61.4±7.2 years, 62.6% women), presbyopia prevalence was 62.6% (95% CI 59.5 to 65.7). Presbyopia was significantly positively associated with female gender (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR)=1.19, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.41) and receiving WA (APR=1.20, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.38) in multivariable analyses.
Conclusions
This study highlights a substantial burden of uncorrected presbyopia among a prescreened, randomised control trial-eligible subgroup of social safety net beneficiaries in rural Bangladesh, who were not currently using MFS but demonstrated cognitive and functional capacity to use mobile phones, potentially hampering their ability to carry out online banking. Delivery of reading glasses may improve digital financial access and facilitate broader financial inclusion, a hypothesis currently being tested in the parent THRIFT trial.
Trial registration number
Keywords: OPHTHALMOLOGY, Aged, Prevalence
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY.
The study used a standardised protocol to assess near vision and functional prerequisites for smartphone use, including cognition, numeracy and dexterity.
Thus, the presence of presbyopia, a potential barrier to smartphone use, was only assessed among those otherwise capable of using such phones.
Participants were drawn from a highly relevant group, beneficiaries of government social safety net programmes requiring access through mobile banking.
The study sample reflects an economically important and vulnerable group receiving government benefits and is not meant to be population-representative.
Introduction
Presbyopia, an age-related condition characterised by the progressive loss of near focusing ability, affects nearly all older adults, beginning at around age 35, the peak of the working years.1 By 2020, uncorrected presbyopia caused near vision impairment in 510 million people globally, primarily in South, East and Southeast Asia.2 Among adults aged 50 and older, an estimated 419 million people around the globe had near vision impairment from uncorrected presbyopia in 2020.3 Despite the potential for simple correction with near vision glasses, effective refractive error coverage remains low at just 20.5% among individuals aged 50 and older.4
Mobile financial services (MFSs) are improving access to banking services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).5 In Bangladesh, the government has integrated MFS into its social safety net programmes for the elderly, including the Old Age Allowance (OAA) and Widows’ Allowance (WA), which provide monthly cash transfers to vulnerable populations. Since 2021, payments have been made exclusively through MFS platforms like bKash and Nagad, potentially improving convenience and safety for recipients.6
However, previous research has identified a significant burden of uncorrected presbyopia in Bangladesh.7 Evidence from several countries suggests that presbyopia can hinder the use of mobile phones.8,13 Older adult beneficiaries of OAA and WA may struggle to use the mobile phone due to presbyopia. Thus, understanding the prevalence of presbyopia among this population and addressing the burden is crucial for maximising the financial impact of social safety net programmes targeting the vulnerable elderly.
Transforming Households with Refraction and Innovative Financial Technology (THRIFT)14 is a randomised control trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the impact of providing near-vision glasses and basic digital financial training on presbyopic OAA and WA beneficiaries’ use of mobile banking in Bangladesh. Although extensive literature is available on the global burden of uncorrected presbyopia,2 there is a need for specific data on the burden among particular vulnerable populations with an inherent strong need for near vision, such as older persons with a requirement to use smartphones for online banking. The current study is designed to fill this evidence gap by focusing on OAA and WA recipients who are required to access payments through online banking. The objective of the current paper is to determine the prevalence of presbyopia and associated risk factors among OAA and WA beneficiaries eligible for THRIFT,14 specifically those who are poor, not currently using MFS and possess the dexterity, numeracy and cognitive ability to use smartphones.
Methods
Study design and setting
This study draws data from the THRIFT RCT14 screening and recruitment phases in Kurigram Sadar and Nageshwari. These two subdistricts are chosen as OAA and WA allowances are distributed via study partner bKash and vision programmes by BRAC and VisionSpring are active there.
Study procedures
A structured, multistep screening process was implemented to identify eligible participants for the THRIFT trial (figure 1). Beneficiaries identified from the DSS database were visited door-to-door to assess demographics, socio-economic status, numeracy, manual dexterity and cognitive functioning required to perform basic financial functions on a mobile device. Respondents meeting initial criteria underwent eye examinations for presbyopia, with eligible individuals (meeting all inclusion criteria below) invited to consent for enrolment in THRIFT.14 For participants who were unable to read or write, trained enumerators read the full consent form aloud in Bengali, the local language. Participants were encouraged to ask questions, and enumerators confirmed participants understood the content of the consent form before proceeding. Those agreeing to participate provided thumbprint consent in place of a signature.
Figure 1. Progress of potential participants through the study.
Race/ethnicity data were not collected as effectively the entire cohort belongs to a single national ethnic group.
Social screening
From an initial pool of beneficiaries identified by the DSS, individuals from bKash catchment areas in Kurigram, Bangladesh were selected. Age criteria were 65–70 and 62–70 years for male and female OAA recipients, respectively. For WA recipients, participants were chosen between 48–60 years of age. Additional eligibility requirement assessed at this stage included internet connection speed ≥13 kbps, verified using the NetSpeed indicator application.
Wealth screening
Economic eligibility was assessed using an Equity Tool, based on the Demographic and Health Survey Wealth Index.15 16 Participants from the lowest three of five wealth quintiles or those living below the poverty line were eligible, while those in the top two quintiles were excluded.
Mobile banking use
Participants independently using bKash mobile banking software were excluded.
Mobile phone readiness test
A smartphone-based numeracy, dexterity and cognition test evaluated participants’ ability to identify numbers when spoken to them in the local language and correctly input them into a touchpad interface, designed to resemble the bKash application. A minimum score of 8 out of 10 digits (0–9, presented in random order) was required for eligibility.
Vision screening
Door-to-door visits were conducted by trained community health workers provided lists of persons provisionally eligible based on prior screenings. An external examination of both eyes was conducted to identify conditions, including redness, watery discharge, obvious lens opacity, evidence of ocular injury or pterygium requiring referral. Distance and near visual acuity were measured using tumbling E reduced logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution charts at 3 m and 40 cm, respectively. Presbyopia was defined as binocular presenting near visual acuity of N6.3 or worse, correctable to at least N5 with near vision glasses and with distance vision of ≥6/12 in both eyes.
Statistical analyses
Categorical variables were analysed using frequencies and percentages. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used for normality assessment. χ² and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess the association between presbyopia and categorical variables. Linear by linear trend tests were conducted for ordered variables to assess trend across age categories, educational level and national quintiles, while χ² tests were used for non-ordered categorical variables to assess trend across the categories.
Due to the high prevalence of presbyopia, around 63%, logistic regression overestimated effect measures with large standard errors and wide CIs. Log-binomial regression had convergence problems, and thus robust Poisson regression was used to assess the significance of associations between presbyopia and potential predictors. Factors with p<0.15 in unadjusted univariable regression were included in a multivariable model. However, mobile type was considered an a priori variable based on this study importance and was included in the multivariable analysis regardless of its p value (0.271). Adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% CIs were used to measure association. Factors with p<0.05 were considered significant. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata (V.18, Stata Corp, College Station, Texas, USA).
Patient and public involvement
Patients and the public were involved in the formative qualitative phase of the study, including workshops to develop the theory of change and inform the study design.
Results
From an initial pool of 13 944 beneficiaries identified by the DSS, 6251 (44.8%) met residency criteria and were approached for eligibility screening (figure 1). Following social screening, 4348 (69.5%) persons remained provisionally eligible. Of these, 3795 people (87.3%) belong to the lowest three wealth quintiles and meet wealth eligibility criteria.
Additionally, 451 (18.9%) participants were disqualified for prior use of bKash mobile banking software independently, while 2152 (64.4%) were eliminated after failing the mobile phone readiness test, leaving 1192 (35.6%) eligible for vision screening. However, 202 (16.9%) participants were not selected for testing, due to exceeding sample size requirements of the parent trial. Additionally, 37 (3.1%) were removed due to screening failure and wrong vision screening (figure 1).
Among 953 participants included in the current study of near vision assessment, 597 (62.6%, 95% CI 59.5% to 65.7%) were presbyopic. Of all participants, 25.7% were aged 45–54 years, 21.2% were aged 55–64 years and 53.1% were aged 65 years or older (table 1). A majority of participants were women (62.6%). A total of 79.9% had never attended school, and only 4.1% had completed secondary or higher school. Three-quarters of the participants were employed, with 20.9% being retired. Nearly all (97.3%) participants had access to a mobile phone; however, only 5.6% had smartphones, and 7.6% had internet access. 23% of participants were using eyeglasses, and more than half were in the lowest wealth quintile among those approached for eligibility screening in this current study. A total of 515 (54.0%) were receiving the OAA, while the rest received WA.
Table 1. Descriptive statistics of the study participants.
| Characteristic | Total (n=953) | Presbyopic (597) | Non-presbyopic (n=356) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | <0.001 | |||
| 45–54 | 245 (25.7) | 183 (30.7) | 62 (17.4) | |
| 55–64 | 202 (21.2) | 138 (23.1) | 64 (18.0) | |
| 65+ | 506 (53.1) | 276 (46.2) | 230 (64.6) | |
| Sex | <0.001 | |||
| Male | 356 (37.4) | 183 (30.7) | 173 (48.6) | |
| Female | 597 (62.6) | 414 (69.3) | 183 (51.4) | |
| Highest level of education | 0.11 | |||
| Never attended school | 761 (79.9) | 487 (81.6) | 274 (77.0) | |
| Completed primary school | 153 (16.1) | 90 (15.1) | 63 (17.7) | |
| Completed secondary school | 34 (3.6) | 19 (3.2) | 15 (4.2) | |
| Completed higher secondary school | 5 (0.5) | 1 (0.2) | 4 (1.1) | |
| Literacy level | 0.022 | |||
| Unable to read or write | 684 (71.8) | 447 (74.9) | 237 (66.6) | |
| Can read | 30 (3.1) | 16 (2.7) | 14 (3.9) | |
| Can read and write | 239 (25.1) | 134 (22.4) | 105 (29.5) | |
| Occupation | 0.081 | |||
| Unemployed | 34 (3.6) | 25 (4.2) | 9 (2.5) | |
| Employed | 720 (75.6) | 459 (76.9) | 261 (73.3) | |
| Retired | 199 (20.9) | 113 (18.9) | 86 (24.2) | |
| Currently have access to a mobile phone | 0.91 | |||
| Yes | 927 (97.3) | 581 (97.3) | 346 (97.2) | |
| No | 26 (2.7) | 16 (2.7) | 10 (2.8) | |
| Who owns the phone? | 0.25 | |||
| My own | 602 (64.9) | 384 (66.1) | 218 (63.0) | |
| Family member | 300 (32.4) | 185 (31.8) | 115 (33.2) | |
| Neighbour | 25 (2.7) | 12 (2.1) | 13 (3.8) | |
| Mobile phone type | 0.31 | |||
| Smartphone | 52 (5.6) | 36 (6.2) | 16 (4.6) | |
| Other | 875 (94.4) | 545 (93.8) | 330 (95.4) | |
| Internet connection on the phone | 0.63 | |||
| Yes | 70 (7.6) | 42 (7.2) | 28 (8.1) | |
| No | 857 (92.4) | 539 (92.8) | 318 (91.9) | |
| Eyeglasses use | 0.36 | |||
| Yes | 219 (23.0) | 143 (24.0) | 76 (21.3) | |
| No | 734 (77.0) | 454 (76.0) | 280 (78.7) | |
| Wealth quintile | 0.13 | |||
| Quintile 1 | 516 (54.1) | 313 (52.4) | 203 (57.0) | |
| Quintile 2 | 269 (28.2) | 182 (30.5) | 87 (24.4) | |
| Quintile 3 | 168 (17.6) | 102 (17.1) | 66 (18.5) | |
| Beneficiary type | <0.001 | |||
| OAA | 515 (54.0) | 280 (46.9) | 235 (66.0) | |
| WA | 438 (46.0) | 317 (53.1) | 121 (34.0) |
Notes: variables were expressed as frequencies with percentages in parentheses. Data for all variables were available for all participants.
OAA, Old Age Allowance; WA, Widows’ Allowance.
Persons with presbyopia were significantly older, more likely to be female and illiterate than those without (table 1). The highest prevalence of presbyopia was observed among individuals aged 45–54 years (74.7%), with a significant decrease in prevalence with increasing age (test for trend, p<0.001, table 2). Presbyopia was more prevalent in women (p<0.001), those with lower education (p=0.056) and WA beneficiaries (p<0.001) (table 2). In multivariable regression models, female gender and WA status remained significant predictors of higher presbyopia risk (table 3). Women were 19% more likely to have presbyopia than men (APR=1.19, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.41, p=0.031, table 3). Beneficiaries of WA were more presbyopic than those receiving OAA, APR=1.20 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.38, p=0.010, table 3).
Table 2. Prevalence of presbyopia by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of study participants.
| Characteristic | Number | Prevalence (95% CI) | Trend test for association |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | <0.001 | ||
| 45–54 | 183 | 74.7 (68.8 to 80.0) | |
| 55–64 | 138 | 68.3 (61.4 to 74.7) | |
| 65+ | 276 | 54.5 (50.1 to 58.9) | |
| Sex* | <0.001 | ||
| Male | 183 | 51.4 (46.1 to 56.7) | |
| Female | 414 | 69.3 (65.5 to 73.0) | |
| Highest level of education | <0.056 | ||
| Never been to school | 487 | 64.0 (60.5 to 67.4) | |
| Completed primary school (grade five pass) | 90 | 58.8 (50.6 to 66.7) | |
| Completed secondary or higher school certificate | 20 | 51.3 (34.8 to 67.6) | |
| Wealth quintile | 0.540 | ||
| Quintile 1 | 313 | 60.7 (56.3 to 64.9) | |
| Quintile 2 | 182 | 67.7 (61.7 to 73.2) | |
| Quintile 3 | 102 | 60.7 (52.9 to 68.1) | |
| Beneficiary type* | <0.001 | ||
| OAA | 280 | 54.4 (50.0 to 58.7) | |
| WA | 317 | 72.4 (67.9 to 76.5) | |
| Total | 597 | 62.6 (59.5 to 65.7) |
NB: non-parametric tests for trend for ordered categorical variables.
χ² test was used to assess the group comparison for non-ordered categorical variables.
OAA, Old Age Allowance; WA, Widows’ Allowance.
Table 3. Factors associated with presbyopia, univariate and multivariable analysis.
| Variable | Univariate | Multivariable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR (95 % CI) | P value | APR (95% CI) | P value | |
| Age (years) | ||||
| 45–54 | Ref | |||
| 55–64 | 0.91 (0.81 to 1.03) | 0.141 | ||
| 65+ | 0.73 (0.66 to 0.81) | <0.001 | ||
| Sex | ||||
| Male | Ref | |||
| Female | 1.35 (1.20 to 1.51) | <0.001 | 1.19 (1.02 to 1.41) | 0.031 |
| Highest level of education | ||||
| Never been to school | Ref | |||
| Completed primary school (grade five pass) | 0.92 (0.80 to 1.06) | 0.248 | ||
| Completed secondary/higher school certificate | 0.80 (0.59 to 1.09) | 0.162 | ||
| Occupation | ||||
| Unemployed | Ref | |||
| Employed | 0.87 (0.70 to 1.07) | 0.181 | ||
| Retired | 0.77 (0.61 to 0.98) | 0.031 | ||
| Mobile type | ||||
| Feature or button | Ref | |||
| Smartphone | 1.11 (0.92 to 1.34) | 0.271 | 1.10 (0.91 to 1.33) | 0.314 |
| Eyeglasses use | ||||
| No | Ref | |||
| Yes | 1.06 (0.94 to 1.18) | 0.343 | ||
| Wealth quintile | ||||
| Quintile 1 | 1.00 (0.87 to 1.15) | 0.990 | 0.96 (0.83 to 1.11) | 0.608 |
| Quintile 2 | 1.11 (0.96 to 1.29) | 0.149 | 1.11 (0.95 to 1.29) | 0.189 |
| Quintile 3 | Ref | Ref | ||
| Beneficiary type | ||||
| OAA | Ref | |||
| WA | 1.33 (1.21 to 1.47) | <0.001 | 1.20 (1.04 to 1.38) | 0.010 |
Notes: PRs and APRs are presented with their 95% CIs in parentheses.
APRs, adjusted prevalence ratios; OAA, Old Age Allowance; PRs, prevalence ratios; WA, Widows’ Allowance.
Discussion
This study aims to assess the prevalence of presbyopia among a population-based sample of OAA and WA beneficiaries in the THRIFT trial,14 possessing the dexterity, numeracy and cognitive ability required for smartphone use. To our knowledge, no other population-based studies examine the prevalence of presbyopia among older online banking users in lower-middle income countries. Using data from the THRIFT14 screening and recruitment phases, our findings indicate a high prevalence of presbyopia, an important potential barrier to smartphone use for MFS, in this cohort who are required to use online banking to access government-provided old age benefits.
In this study, the observed prevalence of presbyopia was 62.6%, consistent with studies in rural Tanzania (61.7%),17 rural China (67.3%),18 South India (61.8%)19 and Nigeria (67.3%).20 Another study, following the Rapid Assessment of Refractive Error (RARE) methodology, reported a similar prevalence (62%) in Sirjaganj, northern Bangladesh, where presbyopia was assessed exclusively among individuals aged 35 and older.7 However, a study carried out in Durban, South Africa, found a higher prevalence of presbyopia (77%) and in a suburban community in South-West Nigeria, the prevalence was 75%.21 22 Conversely, the prevalence in our study was higher than that reported in northwest Nigeria (30.4%) and India (42.9%).23 24
The varying prevalence in these studies may reflect different definitions of presbyopia, age distributions of the study populations and assessment methods including the type of near vision chart used, testing conditions and test distances. Some studies included participants aged ≥35 years,7 22 24 others used a cut-off of ≥40 years17,1921 23 and one study used ≥30 years among cosmetologists.20 Participants were aged 48–70, aligning with the government’s criteria for OAA and WA beneficiaries. The higher presbyopia rates in South Africa and Nigeria may relate to a greater prevalence of hyperopia (highest global prevalence) in African populations,25 though we lack data to confirm this.
A surprising finding in the present study was the decreasing prevalence of presbyopia with age. In contrast, Burke et al found the opposite trend, which is also reported in other studies.17 21 22 24 26 However, Mashayo et al27 observed an increasing trend in the prevalence of presbyopia from the ages of 35–74 years, following a decreasing trend among individuals aged 75 and above. The decline in presbyopia per se among older individuals is widely reported and is inherent in the definition, which requires that persons with impaired near vision should have normal distance vision, to distinguish between persons with conditions such as cataract, also prevalent in older populations, which affect both near and distance vision. Thus, as the burden of cataract rises in older cohorts, the prevalence of pure presbyopia declines as a direct consequence.28 Among participants aged 65 and older, only 54.1% had presbyopia, while 34.4% were referred for additional care due to other vision issues, and 11.1% had normal vision. However, age was not included in our multivariable model as the beneficiary type (WA vs OAA) was strongly associated with age and was included instead.
Our findings indicate the prevalence of presbyopia is significantly higher among women, even after adjustment for other factors. Several previous studies also found higher prevalence of presbyopia among women,17 21 23 26 including a RARE study in Bangladesh.7 Pointer suggested, possibly due to physiological and physical differences, women typically need more near vision correction than men of the same age.29 However, a meta-analysis suggested women’s increased risk of presbyopia may stem from task-related factors and viewing distances.30 Another alternative explanation could be lower access to education, which tends to promote myopia in women and girls. Further research is needed to explore these gender differences.
We found higher presbyopia prevalence among less educated participants, consistent with findings from weaving communities in Andhra Pradesh, India19 and Southwest Nigeria,26 though education-related patterns vary across studies. Similarly, Laviers et al31 found out that functional presbyopia was associated with lower literacy levels, particularly in rural regions. These findings may be due to a higher prevalence of myopia among more highly educated persons. However, several previous studies reported a higher prevalence of presbyopia among those with greater educational attainment, as seen in Tanzania,17 27 Northwest Nigeria23 and India.24 The higher prevalence of presbyopia among more educated persons may be related to higher visual demand for near tasks such as reading23 and will depend on the specific means of case definition and ascertainment.
We found no significant association between wealth and prevalence of presbyopia. This may be because social safety net beneficiaries are predominantly from the most economically deprived strata of society, lacking the broader social distribution that might highlight such an association. Few previous studies include economic status among the potential risk factors for presbyopia.
We observed a high overall prevalence of presbyopia (62.6%) among social safety net beneficiaries, including WA (72.4%) and OAA beneficiaries (54.4%). This significant burden of uncorrected presbyopia likely hinders mobile use,18 including mobile banking, despite beneficiaries in our study having the necessary numeracy, dexterity and cognitive skills. Addressing uncorrected presbyopia could improve access to funds, as all social benefits in Bangladesh are paid via MFSs. Our THRIFT trial14 is designed to address the hypothesis that providing near-vision glasses and basic digital financial training improves presbyopic beneficiaries’ use of mobile banking in Bangladesh. Correcting presbyopia has other significant economic and social benefits. For instance, RCTs in India and Bangladesh have shown that providing reading glasses enhances work productivity by 22% and increases income by 33.4%.32 33 Uncorrected presbyopia caused an estimated US$54 billion in productivity loss in LMICs alone in 2019.34
A key strength of this study is its focus on uncorrected presbyopia in a unique and highly relevant group, potential recipients of government benefits in Bangladesh, delivered exclusively through mobile banking. This cohort of OAA/WA beneficiaries was assessed with standardised protocol14 and complete data, systematically excluding other barriers like limited cognition, numeracy and dexterity.
A limitation is that participants represented a prescreened, RCT-eligible cohort of OAA/WA beneficiaries who are poor, not currently using MFSs and cognitively and functionally capable of using a smartphone—a highly selected subgroup, therefore, does not provide population-representative sample. Nonetheless, they constitute a group with a unique need to access MFSs. These results are representative only of this cohort and geographical region of Bangladesh, and our results cannot be applied to other settings with confidence. Moreover, given the limited relevance of systemic comorbidities to the primary study outcome, we have not chosen to include data on comorbidities in our analyses. Future investigations can include comprehensive health assessments to explore potential effect modification.
Despite its limitations, the current study provides strong evidence of the burden of uncorrected presbyopia in a cohort of persons requiring access to mobile banking, with its inherent demands on near vision.35 The ongoing THRIFT trial14 will determine whether alleviating this burden results in greater financial inclusiveness among this vulnerable group of older safety net beneficiaries in Bangladesh.
Footnotes
Funding: Wellcome Trust (Grant number: 222490/Z/21/Z). Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation (Grant number: Special Projects ref: 222490/Z/21/Z).
Prepub: Prepublication history for this paper is available online. To view these files, please visit the journal online (https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108327).
Data availability free text: The data analysed in this study are not publicly available due to restrictions related to participant confidentiality and study governance but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Patient consent for publication: Not applicable.
Ethics approval: This study involves human participants and was approved by the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) IRB (reference #IRB-21 August' 22-028), QUB Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (MHLS) (reference #MHLS22_69). Approval was also obtained from local leaders and Department of Social Services (DSS). All participants gave written informed consent, and the study followed international and national ethical guidelines, including the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonisation’s Good Clinical Practice Consolidated Guideline (E6).
Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient and public involvement: Patients and/or the public were involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. Refer to the Methods section for further details.
Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request.
References
- 1.Bourne RRA, Flaxman SR, Braithwaite T, et al. Magnitude, temporal trends, and projections of the global prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5:e888–97. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30293-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Bourne R, Steinmetz JD, Flaxman S, et al. Trends in prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment over 30 years: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021;9:e130–43. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30425-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Little J-A, Congdon NG, Resnikoff S, et al. Global estimates on the number of people blind or visually impaired by Uncorrected Refractive Error: a meta-analysis from 2000 to 2020. Eye (Lond) 2024;38:2083–101. doi: 10.1038/s41433-024-03106-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Bourne RRA, Cicinelli MV, Sedighi T, et al. Effective refractive error coverage in adults aged 50 years and older: estimates from population-based surveys in 61 countries. Lancet Glob Health. 2022;10:e1754–63. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00433-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Adeola O, Edeh JN, Hinson RE. Digital business in Africa: social media and related technologies—an introduction. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan; 2022. [Google Scholar]
- 6.Department of Social Services Annual Report 2020-2021. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2021.
- 7.Muhit M, Minto H, Parvin A, et al. Prevalence of refractive error, presbyopia, and unmet need of spectacle coverage in a northern district of Bangladesh: Rapid Assessment of Refractive Error study. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2018;25:126–32. doi: 10.1080/09286586.2017.1370119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Hu Q, Li Y, Wang B, et al. The correlation between near vision and smartphone use among ageing populations. Ann Palliat Med. 2022;11:560–7. doi: 10.21037/apm-21-3830. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Wang C, Wang X, Jin L, et al. Influence of presbyopia on smartphone usage among Chinese adults: A population study. Clin Exp Ophthalmol . 2019;47:909–17. doi: 10.1111/ceo.13559. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Muhammad N, Alhassan MB, Umar MM. Visual function and vision-related quality of life in presbyopic adult population of Northwestern Nigeria. Niger Med J. 2015;56:317–22. doi: 10.4103/0300-1652.170379. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11.Shirneshan E, Coon CD, Johnson N, et al. Development of the Near Vision Presbyopia Task-based Questionnaire for use in evaluating the impact of presbyopia. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2021;5:1–20. doi: 10.1186/S41687-021-00378-Y/FIGURES/9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Bentley S, Findley A, Chiva-Razavi S, et al. Understanding the visual function symptoms and associated functional impacts of phakic presbyopia. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2021;5:1–15. doi: 10.1186/s41687-021-00383-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Mohadisdudis HM, Ali NM. A study of smartphone usage and barriers among the elderly. 2014 3rd International Conference on User Science and Engineering (i-USEr); Shah Alam, Malaysia. 2014. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 14.Shitol SA, Aftab IB, Piyasena P, et al. Transforming Households with Refraction and Innovative Financial Technology (THRIFT): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of vision interventions and online banking among the elderly in Kurigram. BMJ Open. 2024;14:e085083. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085083. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), ICF The DHS program - Bangladesh: standard DHS, 2017-18 dataset. 2020. https://dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Bangladesh_Standard-DHS_2017.cfm?flag=1 Available.
- 16.Bangladesh - Equity Tool. 2022. https://www.equitytool.org/bangladesh/ Available.
- 17.Burke AG, Patel I, Munoz B, et al. Population-based study of presbyopia in rural Tanzania. Ophthalmology. 2006;113:723–7. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.01.030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18.Lu Q, He W, Murthy GVS, et al. Presbyopia and near-vision impairment in rural northern China. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52:2300–5. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6569. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19.Marmamula S, Narsaiah S, Shekhar K, et al. Presbyopia, spectacles use and spectacle correction coverage for near vision among cloth weaving communities in Prakasam district in South India. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2013;33:597–603. doi: 10.1111/opo.12079. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20.Agboola SA, Aribaba OT, Sam-Oyerinde OA, et al. Prevalence of Presbyopia, Near-spectacle Use and Near Vision Spectacle Coverage among Cosmetologists in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. J West Afr Coll Surg. 2022;12:104–10. doi: 10.4103/jwas.jwas_149_22. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 21.Seidu MA, Bekibele CO, Ayorinde OO. Prevalence of presbyopia in a semi-urban population of southwest, Nigeria: a community-based survey. Int Ophthalmol. 2016;36:767–73. doi: 10.1007/s10792-016-0198-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 22.Naidoo KS, Jaggernath J, Martin C, et al. Prevalence of presbyopia and spectacle coverage in an African population in Durban, South Africa. Optom Vis Sci. 2013;90:1424–9. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000096. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 23.Umar MM, Muhammad N, Alhassan MB. Prevalence of presbyopia and spectacle correction coverage in a rural population of North West Nigeria. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015;9:1195–201. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S81194. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 24.Malhotra S, Vashist P, Kalaivani M, et al. Prevalence of presbyopia, spectacles coverage and barriers for unmet need among adult population of rural Jhajjar, Haryana. J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11:287–93. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1148_21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25.Hashemi H, Fotouhi A, Yekta A, et al. Global and regional estimates of prevalence of refractive errors: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Curr Ophthalmol. 2018;30:3–22. doi: 10.1016/j.joco.2017.08.009. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 26.Ajibode HA, Fakolujo VO, Onabolu OO, et al. A COMMUNITY-BASED PREVALENCE OF PRESBYOPIA AND SPECTACLE COVERAGE IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA. J West Afr Coll Surg. 2016;6:66–82. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 27.Mashayo ER, Chan VF, Ramson P, et al. Prevalence of refractive error, presbyopia and spectacle coverage in Kahama District, Tanzania: a rapid assessment of refractive error. Clin Exp Optom. 2015;98:58–64. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 28.He M, Abdou A, Ellwein LB, et al. Age-related prevalence and met need for correctable and uncorrectable near vision impairment in a multi-country study. Ophthalmology. 2014;121:417–22. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.06.051. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 29.Pointer JS. The presbyopic add. II. Age‐related trend and a gender difference. Ophthalmic Physiologic Optic. 1995;15:241–8. doi: 10.1046/j.1475-1313.1995.9400022r.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 30.Hickenbotham A, Roorda A, Steinmaus C, et al. Meta-analysis of sex differences in presbyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:3215–20. doi: 10.1167/iovs.12-9791. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 31.Laviers HR, Omar F, Jecha H, et al. Presbyopic spectacle coverage, willingness to pay for near correction, and the impact of correcting uncorrected presbyopia in adults in Zanzibar, East Africa. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010;51:1234–41. doi: 10.1167/iovs.08-3154. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 32.Reddy PA, Congdon N, MacKenzie G, et al. Effect of providing near glasses on productivity among rural Indian tea workers with presbyopia (PROSPER): a randomised trial. Lancet Glob Health. 2018;6:e1019–27. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30329-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 33.Sehrin F, Jin L, Naher K, et al. The effect on income of providing near vision correction to workers in Bangladesh: The THRIVE (Tradespeople and Hand-workers Rural Initiative for a Vision-enhanced Economy) randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2024;19:e0296115. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296115. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 34.Ma Q, Chen M, Li D, et al. Potential productivity loss from uncorrected and under-corrected presbyopia in low- and middle-income countries: A life table modeling study. Front Public Health. 2022;10:983423. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.983423. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 35.Lu Q, Congdon N, He X, et al. Quality of life and near vision impairment due to functional presbyopia among rural Chinese adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52:4118–23. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6353. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

