Background: To determine the cause of monocular and binocular blindness and low vision in an OPD-ophthalmology clinic setting
Materials and Methods: In a prospective OPD-based cross-sectional study, 420 subjects were examined in general ophthalmology clinic in Kashan from June 2003-2004. All patients underwent dilated pupil examination by an ophthalmologist. Low vision and blindness defined as best corrected visual acuity< 20/70 (<3/10) or < 20/200 respectively.
Results: Of 420 patients enrolled in this study186 (44.3%) were males. Three hundreds and two of cases were blind and 18 had low vision. Common causes of low vision and blindness in order of frequency were: cataract 39.8%, diabetic retinopathy 10.9%, myopic fundus 9.5%, amblyopia 9.3% and ARMD 7.9% The most common anatomic site of decreased vision were lens, retina, optic nerve and visual pathway
Conclusion: Cataract, retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy and myopic degeneration are the leading cause of low vision and blindness. Trauma is a significant cause of sever, unilateral vision loss, especially in the young and in newly presenting subjects. Diabetes was the leading cause of blindness among the working age group population.
Aghadoost D, Yeganeh Moghaddam A, Jamei B. Etiology of blindness and low vision in an OPD- Ophthalmology Clinic Setting. Feyz Med Sci J 2006; 9 (4) :27-30 URL: http://feyz.kaums.ac.ir/article-1-112-en.html