Objective To understand the prevalence and cause of eye diseases in the middle and old aged population in community was of important significance for the prevention and treatment of relevant diseases.The present study attempts to survey the prevalence of common eye diseases and conditions of blindness and low vision in 50 years and older population in community of Beijing.MethodsThis was an ophthalmologic epidemiology survey.The 2 833 target population was included and registered in Western Chang'an street community in door-to-door and questionnaire manner between October,2006-October,2007.Multiple factors,such as demography,general conditions,lifestyles,education degree,economical status,medical status and the awareness of relevant ophthalmic knowledge of participants were recorded and evaluated.Relevant eye examinations including uncorrected visual acuity,pinhole visual acuity,non-contact intraocular pressure test,slit-lamp,funduscopy and optometry examinations were performed in Beijing No.2 Hospital by trained ophthalmologists.Blindness and low vision were evaluated based on WHO criteria.The causes of leading-blindness and low vision were analyzed.Oral informed consent was obtained from all of the subjects.Results2 410 individuals of 2 833≥50-year-old participants received complete surveys according to the designed process in this study with an examined rate of 85.07%.The incidence of blindness and low vision in examinees was 0.79% and 5.64% respectively.The positive factors related to blindness and low vision appeared to be age,education and an awareness of relevant ophthalmic knowledge (χ~2=26.62,18.28,21.32,P＜0.001).The primary causes of blindness in examined population,in order,were cataract,glaucoma and retinopathy,and those of low vision were cataracts,refractive error and diabetic retinopathy.ConclusionIt is emphasized that early prevention and treatment for cataract,glaucoma,diabetic retinopathy and refractive errors can reduce the prevalence of blindness and low vision in people over 50 years in the Western Chang'an street community of Beijing.