Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention:

Appendix 1: Distinguishing Characteristics of Persistent Ocular Diseases

	Prevalence/ Incidence		Contribution to visual Impairment (e)		Effectiveness of Rx/Px		Resources available for control (a)
	OECD Coun- tries	Poor Coun- tries	OECD Coun- tries	Poor Coun- tries	OECD Coun- tries	Poor Coun- tries	OECD Coun- tries	Poor Coun- tries	Attractive Opportunity Near-Term Research (d)
Cataract	5	5	1	5	5	5	4	2	A
Trachoma	NA	5	NA	5	5	3	NA	3	Rx/A
Oncho-cerciasis	NA	2	NA	2	4	4	NA	3	A
Xeroph-thalmia	NA	2	NA	2	5	5	NA	2	A
Glaucoma	4	4	3	4	3	1	4	1	-
AMD	4	2	5	3	1	1	4	1	-
Diabetic Retino-pathy	4	3	4	3	4	4	4	1(b)	A
"Childhood" (c)	3	3	3	2	3	2	3	1	E/A
Refractive Error	5	5	1	4	5	5	5	1	E/A

1. Resources include infrastructure, human capital, and financing.
   
   
2. Diabetic retinopathy is a classic example of a growing problem in the developing world (3); where effective Rx and Px exists (4); and where infrastructure in poor countries is inadequate to deliver effective Rx/Px to most of those who need it (1), but special groups (urban elite) often have full access to care. The same is true of cataract.
   
   
3. "Childhood" reflects retinopathy of prematurity in OECD countries; xerophthalmia, injury, congenital cataract and glaucoma in poor countries.
   
   
4. Attractive near-term opportunities for etiologic (E), treatment (Rx), or operational ("applied") (A) research.
   
   
5. Several entities are transitioning towards different endpoints. Onchocerciasis is presently "controlled"; in several decades it may be eradicated. Xerophthalmia is partially controlled; it may someday be "eliminated" as a public health problem, but as vitamin A deficiency can reoccur, unlike complete elimination of a parasite, the condition can never be "eradicated."

5 = "to greatest degree" (e.g, prevalence/incidence high; very important contribution to visual impairment; very effective treatment or prevention modality; resources adequately available)

1 = "to the least degree" (converse of "5")

NA = not applicable because successfully controlled

Next: Appendix 2: Research Goals: Prioritization and the Means to Move Forward

Also see: Table of Contents of the Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention