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Abstract #28056 Published in IGR 13-1
Causes of blindness in people aged 50 years and over: Community-based versus hospital-based study
Al-Akily SA; Bamashmus MA; Al-Mohammadi KAEastern Mediterranean health journal 2010; 16:9
The causes of blindness in Yemen were determined in people aged 50+ years in both a communityand hospital-based study and documented using WHO/PBL criteria. In the community sample of 707 individuals in a rural area of Taiz governorate the prevalence of bilateral blindness was 7.9% and the main causes were cataract (71.4%) and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) (14.3%). Corneal opacities and uncorrected aphakia were rare (1 case each) and there were no cases of diabetic retinopathy. Unilateral blindness was found in 8.6% of the community sample. In a case-notes review of 1320 new patients attending an eye clinic in Sana'a, bilateral blindness was documented in 26.5% and unilateral blindness in 9.0% (main causes: cataract, glaucoma, ARMD, diabetic retinopathy, corneal opacities and trauma). LA: French
M. A. Bamashmus. Ibn Al-Haitham Eye Centre, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen. bamashmus@y.net.ye
Classification:
1.5 Glaucomas as cause of blindness (Part of: 1 General aspects)
