Abstract
This study reviewed the prevalence of moderate and severe visual loss, as indicated by the World
Health Organization’s definition of low vision and blindness, in the Thai population. Three data sources
from national surveys of the Thai population during 2006-2009, namely 1) the forth National Survey of
Blindness and Low Vision in Thailand during 2006-2007; 2) the 2007 Disability Survey; and 3) the fourth
Health Examination Survey in Thai Population in 2008-2009, were reviewed. In addition, reviews of
visual loss in other countries were conducted using structured search terms in PUBMED. Due to differences
in the definition in each Thai survey, the prevalence of visual loss revealed varied results. The 2007 Disability Survey showed visual loss prevalence (moderate: 0.80%; severe: 0.063%) was lower than the
2006-2007 National Survey of Blindness and Low Vision (moderate: 3.69%; severe: 2.04%). The prevalence
of moderate and severe visual loss in the 2008-2009 National Health Examination Survey was 30.2% and
3.4 respectively. In conclusion, every study revealed that prevalence of visual loss in Thais increased with
age and was greater in female. It is also found that high-income countries have lower visual loss, as
indicated by prevalence of blindness and low vision, than medium- or low-income countries.
