ABSTRACT
To determine the anatomical sites and causes of severe visual impairment [SVI] and blindness in children attending a school for the blind in Ahvaz. In this case series study, all 51 students of the only school for the blind in Ahvaz were examined by two ophthalmologists. Blindness and SVI were defined according to the World Health Organization [WHO] criteria as visual acuity less than 3/60 and 6/60, respectively. Visual acuity was measured by snellen chart; slit lamp biomicroscopy and dilated fundus exam were performed for all children. Of 51 examined students aged 7 to 16 years, one child was not visually handicapped and therefore excluded. Causes of blindness and SVL in 50 students [100 eyes] in order of frequency were: optic atrophy 7 [14%], retinitis pigmentosa 7 [14%], chorioretinal coloboma 6 [12%], severe myopia 4 [8%], macular dystrophy 4 [8%], old retinal detachment 1 [2%], cataract 5 [10%], microcornea 6 [12%], corneal opacity 4 [8%], persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous [PHPV] 1 [2%] and hypotonia and phthysis bulbi 5 [10%]. The most common causes of SVI and blindness were rare inheritable causes including congenital disease of the retina, optic nerve and cornea which resembles the pattern of childhood blindness in developed countries
ABSTRACT
To determine the correlation between body mass index [BMI] and exudative age-related macular degeneration [ARMD]. This case-control study was conducted on 60 patients with exudative ARMD and 60 controls, both aged over 50. Age, sex, cigarette smoking and blood pressure were evaluated beside BMI. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software, version 9.0 using Pearson Chi square and t tests. Odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence interval [95%CI] was calculate for over-weight [BMI> 25 kg/m[2]] and smoking. Subjects were male in 66.7% of the case group and 43.3% of the control group. [P<0.01]. Mean age was 71.0 and 71.4 years in the case and control groups, respectively. Mean DM1 was 26.77 and 25.32 kg/m[2] in the case and control groups, respectively. [P>0.05] There were 5% lean [BM1 <20 kg/m[2]], 35% normal-weight [20 0.05] Being over-weight did not predispose to exudative ARMD before [OR= 1.71, 95% CI: 0.81-3.57] and after [OR= 1.65, 95% CI: 0.73-2.6] omitting the smoking factor. Cigarette smoking was a significant risk factor for exudative ARMD [OR= 10.54, 95%CI: 2.33-49.47]. This study showed no significant relation between BM1 and exudative ARMD