Causes of Visual Impairment among Patients Referred to a Visual Rehabilitation Clinic in Iran

PURPOSE: Epidemiologic evaluation and investigating the causes of visual impairment in any society is a matter of concern and has a direct effect on the country's health care planning. In this study we describe causes of low vision and blindness in Iranian patients referred to rehabilitation clinics for taking vision aids. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, visual acuity was classified based on best-corrected visual acuity in the better eye according to the World Health Organization definition (blindness, visual acuity [VA] < 20 / 400; severe visual impairment, VA < 20 / 200-20 / 400; mild to moderate visual impairment, VA < 20 / 60-20 / 200). The causes of blindness and low vision were determined using the 10th version of International Classification of Diseases based on the main cause in both eyes. To describe data, we used mean +/- SD and frequency. RESULTS: The study included 432 patients, 65% male, with a mean age of 43.6 +/- 25.5 years (range, 3 to 92 years). Mild to moderate visual impairment, severe visual impairment and blindness were present in 122 (28.8%), 196 (46.4%) and 105 (24.8%) of the patients, respectively. The main causes of visual impairment were retinal and choroidal diseases (74.5%), optic nerve and optic tract diseases (9.8%), vitreous and globe disorders (5.3%), congenital cataract (3.1%), and glaucoma (2.6%). The distribution pattern of the causes was similar in all age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Diseases of the retina and choroid are the main cause of visual impairment among patients referred to an academic visual rehabilitation clinic in Iran.

Lensectomy and PCIOL implantation with versus without posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy for pediatric cataracts

To compare the visual outcomes and complications of lensectomy and posterior chamber intraocular lens [PCIOL] implantation with or without posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy in older subjects with pediatric cataracts. Seventeen eyes of 12 children aged 10 to 15 years with congenital or developmental cataracts were randomly divided to two groups. Lensectomy and PCIOL [Alcon Acrysof MA60 AC] implantation was performed with [8 eyes] or without [9 eyes] posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy. Mean age at the time of surgery was 12.3 +/- 1.5 [range 10-15] years and mean follow-up period was 18.7 +/- 11.2 [range 6-36] months. Posterior capsule opacification developed in three eyes in the non-vitrectomy group; however, media opacification was mild and capsulotomy was not required in any case. All eyes in the vitrectomy group had a clear visual axis at final follow-up [P=0.2]. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in term of visual acuity [P = 0.3] or complications. Although posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy seems to be safe in pediatric cataract surgery, it may not be necessary as a routine procedure in older children