Changing patterns of visual loss in the eastern province, kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Considerable attention has been given to the problems of prevention of blindness and trachoma in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia over the past 40 years. It was reported in the sixties that trachoma prevalence in Eastern Province preschool children was in excess of 90% in villages and 70% in towns, leading to a high incidence of blindness. Unpublished data from the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital 1984 G/1404 H National Survey of Eye Disease and Visual Loss demonstrated that, according to World Health Organisation criteria, the prevalence of blindness in the Eastern Province was 3.3% and the prevalence of active trachoma 11.3%. Recent socioeconomic improvement, including the health services, prompted a new survey, in order to assess the current situation. From a stratified geographic cluster sample, 4819 persons were registered and 4340 were examined. Results from this 1990 survey are compared with the 1984 data. Blindness was reduced from 3.3% to 1.5%, and cataract remains the major cause of blindness [37.5%]. Trachoma is responsible for 9.4% of the causes of blindness in 1990, in comparison to 27.3% in 1984. Active trachoma has decreased to a level where it can no longer be considered a major health hazard [1%]; however, total elimination of the disease, and protection of families at risk is recommended