Causes of visual impairment and blindness among Yemenis with diabetes: a hospital-based study

We assessed the causes of visual impairment and blindness in 694 diabetic patients attending our eye centre in Sana'a, Yemen from 2001 to 2005 by review of their medical records. The mean age of the patients was 53.9 [SD 11.52] years, range 13-95 years, and 382 [55%] were males. According to the World Health Organization definitions, 273 [39.3%] patients had visual impairment and 109 [15.7%] were blind. Cataract, proliferative diabetic retinopathy [PDR] and diabetic maculopathy were the main causes of visual impairment and blindness. Patients with PDR and maculopathy were significantly more likely to have visual impairment compared to patients without retinopathy [RR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.74-2.28 and RR - 1.84, [95% Cl: 1.60-2.13 respectively] and be blind [RR - 4.69, 95% Cl: 3.70-5.95% and RR= 2.53, 95% CI: 1.92-3.34 respectively]. Diabetic retinopathy is a public health problem in Yemen and national screening and educational programmes are highly needed to reduce the risk of visual impairment and blindness among diabetics

Profile of childhood blindness and low vision in Yemen: a hospital-based study

A retrospective review of records determined the frequency and causes of low vision and blindness in all children aged <16 years attending an ophthalmic practice in Sana'a, Yemen between January and December 2001. Of the 1104 children studied, 45 [4.1%] were found to have bilateral blindness and 115 [10.4%] were unilaterally blind; 48 children [4.3%] were bilaterally visually impaired and 109 [9.9%] were unilaterally visually impaired. The main causes of bilateral blindness included cataract, glaucoma and retinal disorders. The most common causes of bilateral low vision included refractive errors, keratoconus and retinal disorders. These results provide a basis for planning blindness prevention programmes in Yemen

Causes of blindness in people aged 50 years and over: community-based versus hospital-based study

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