Causes of blindness in two institutions for the blind in Yemen

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the main causes of blindness in persons living at two institutions for the blind in Sana'a and Aden in Yemen. A total of 425 blind persons [310 male and 115 female] living in the Al Noor Institutes for the Blind in Sana'a and Aden were studied during January to September 1995. Their ages ranged from one year to 48 years with 78% being under 30 years. Only those with a visual acuity [VA] of counting fingers [CF] were selected. The main causes of blindness were shown as 59% due to ocular disease [congenital optic atrophy, trauma, congenital glaucoma, congenital anophthalmos, corneal opacitites, congenital cataract, retinal detachment, intraoccular foreign bodies, keratoconus, chronic and simple glaucoma, ocular burns, expulsion, microcornea, retinitis pigmentosa and ophthalmia neonatorum]. Systemic diseases were the cause of 41% of blindness, [meningitis, measles, rubella, chickenpox, diabetes mellitus, hydrocephalus, malaria, septicemia, subdural hematoma and albinism]. Conclusions: The main causes of blindness in our study group was shown to be 59% ocular disease [mainly cogenital optic atrophy and trauma] and 41% systemic disease [mainly meningitis and measles]. Blindness mainly affected the young, active male person and highlighted the need for a comprehensive immunization program and general public health education

comparison between autorefractor measurements and the subjective testing of visual acuity

Purpose To compare visual acuity in 100 eyes with the results from an autorefractor and from subjective testing to determine whether or not the autorefractor measurement alone is sufficient to give the best correction for the practitioner to prescribe eye glasses. Methods One hundred eyes were tested by both methods. The patient's ages ranged from 20 to 50 years with a mean age of 34 years. The study was carried out during 1995 at Faculty of Medicine of Sana'a University. No pathology was noted in any of the eyes at the time of testing. Results There were significant differences in the values obtained between the autorefractor measurements and measurements taken on subjective testing. Conclusion The autorefractor measurement alone is not sufficient to give the best prescription and thus the best visual acuity for the purpose of prescribing eye glasses. It is best used as an adjunct to subjective testing or as a screening device

Causes of blindness in two institutions for the blind in Yemen

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the main causes of blindness in persons living at two Institutions for the Blind in Sana'a and Aden in Yemen. A total of 425 blind persons living in the Al Noor Institutes for the Blind in Sana'a and Aden were studied during January to September 1995 [310 male and 115 female]. Their ages ranged from 1 year to 48 years with 78% being under 30 years. Only those with a visual acuity [VA] of counting fingers [CF] were selected. The main causes of blindness were shown as 59% due to ocular disease [congenital optic atrophy, trauma, congenital glaucoma, congenital anophthalmos, conical opacitites, congenital cataract, retinal detachment, intraocular foreign bodies, keratoconus, chronic, simple glaucoma, ocular bums, expulsion, microconea, retinitis pigmentosa and ophthalmia neonatrum]. Systemic diseases were the cause of 41% of blindness, [meningitis, measles, rubella, chickenpox, diabetes mellitus, hydrocephalus, malaria, septicemia, subdural hematoma and albinism]. Conclusions: The main causes of blindness in our study group was shown to be 59% ocular disease [mainly congenital optic atrophy and trauma] and 41% systemic disease [mainly meningitis and measles]. Blindness mainly affected the young, active male person and highlighted the need for a comprehensive immunization program and general public health education