AIM:To investigate the awareness, knowledge and self-reported prevalence about the cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration(AMD)in Chengdu, China.

METHODS:A structured questionnaire was first designed on the awareness and knowledge of the cataract, glaucoma, and AMD. The survey was then conducted in 6 randomly selected nursing homes from Chengdu and in outpatient clinics of non-ophthalmologic departments of West China Hospital with the questionnaire. Chi-square test was applied to determine a certain factor's impact on the awareness or knowledge rates and to determine the difference between awareness rates in our research and others' studies.

RESULTS:Of the participants, the awareness rates of the cataract, glaucoma and AMD were 89.9%, 68.9% and 12.5% respectively. Among the people aware of each disease, the knowledge rates of the cataract, glaucoma and AMD were 70.9%, 48.1% and 44.9%. Educational level was a factor affecting awareness rates of all three diseases; information source was a factor affecting the knowledge rates of each ocular disease. The self-reported prevalence of the cataract, glaucoma and AMD were 7.8%, 1.1%, 0.6% in all participants, and 12.5%, 1.6%, 1.0% in the participants over 40. The proportions of the participants having taken the visual acuity test, intraocular pressure examination, and fundus examination were 72.1%, 17.9%, and 20.2%.

CONCLUSION:According to the data firstly reported in mainland China in our study, it is necessary to improve people's awareness and knowledge of the cataract, glaucoma, and AMD, especially the latter two. Meanwhile, we suggest people taking regular ophthalmologic examinations even without a history of eye diseases.