ABSTRACT
This study in 2005 evaluated the causes and major anatomical site of blindness and severe visual loss at a school for blind children in Isfahan province, Islamic Republic of Iran. All 211 students were examined according to the modified WHO/PBL eye examination record: 70.4% were blind, 24.3% had severe visual loss and 5.3% were visually impaired. The major causes of abnormality were hereditary factors [42.7%], prenatal/ neonatal [18.5%] and unknown etiology [35.5%]. The main sites of abnormality were the retina [62.6%], whole globe [17.5%], lens [7.1%] and optic nerve [7.1%]. A high proportion of parents were in a consanguineous marriage [49.2%]. The pattern of blindness in Isfahan encompasses characteristics of both developed and developing countries