Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in the south western region of Saudi Arabia

A population-based survey of the prevalence of major causes of blindness and visual impairment was conducted in Bisha region, Saudi Arabia. Overall, 2882 people were examined. The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity of < 3/60 in the better eye with best available correction) was 0.7% and the p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational ophthalmology Vol. 17; no. 3; p. 161
Main Authors al Faran, M F, al-Rajhi, A A, al-Omar, O M, al-Ghamdi, S A, Jabak, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands 01.06.1993
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Blindness - epidemiology
Blindness - etiology
Cataract - complications
Cataract - epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Refractive Errors - complications
Refractive Errors - epidemiology
Saudi Arabia - epidemiology
Sex Distribution
Vision Disorders - epidemiology
Vision Disorders - etiology
Saudi Arabia
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Summary:A population-based survey of the prevalence of major causes of blindness and visual impairment was conducted in Bisha region, Saudi Arabia. Overall, 2882 people were examined. The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity of < 3/60 in the better eye with best available correction) was 0.7% and the prevalence of visual impairment (visual acuity < 6/12 but > or = 3/60 in the better eye with best available correction) was 10.9%. Cataracts were responsible for 52.6% of blindness and 20.6% of visual impairment. Refractive errors accounted for 67.9% of visual impairment. Proper management of cataracts and correction of refractive errors will cure 73.6% of blind subjects and 88.5% of visually handicap people in this part of the world.
ISSN:0165-5701
DOI:10.1007/BF00942931