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Abstract #52056 Published in IGR 14-4
Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness, cataract surgical coverage and outcomes of cataract surgery in Libya
Rabiu MM; Jenf M; Fituri S; Choudhury A; Agbabiaka I; Mousa AOphthalmic Epidemiology 2013; 20: 26-32
PURPOSE: To assess the major causes of avoidable blindness, and outcomes and barriers to cataract services in Libya. METHODS: A stratified multistage cluster random sample study was conducted in the four regions of Libya. Visual acuity and lens assessment were performed on all subjects. Those with presenting visual acuity <6/18 in either or both eyes were further investigated to determine cause(s) of impairment. Barriers to cataract surgery were investigated. Visual outcomes of subjects with surgery performed were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 8538 persons aged ≥50 years were examined across the four regions. The prevalence of blindness was 3.25% (3.15% with best correction), which varied across the regions (2.94-3.80%); after adjustment for age and sex, the prevalence was 2.66%. Major causes of blindness were cataract (29%), glaucoma (24%) and other corneal scars (14%). Causes were similar across all regions except in the south. Avoidable causes were responsible for 60.6% of blindness. Major causes of visual impairment were cataract (31.2%), diabetic retinopathy (16.6%) and posterior segment diseases (15.1%). Cataract surgical coverage among those with visual acuity <3/60 was 95.4%, with no sex differences. About 38% of cataract-operated eyes had poor outcome even after best correction (35%). There was poor outcome in 33% of pseudophakic eyes with best correction. The major barriers to service uptake were "waiting for maturity" (26%), "unaware of treatment" (24%) and "God's will/destiny" (17%). CONCLUSION: Libya needs to improve the quality of cataract surgery across all the regions. The southern region needs improvement in both quality and coverage of services.
Prevention of Blindness Union, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Full articleClassification:
1.1 Epidemiology (Part of: 1 General aspects)
1.5 Glaucomas as cause of blindness (Part of: 1 General aspects)