Faculty Collaboration Database

Prevalence and causes of vision loss in North Africa and Middle East in 2015: magnitude, temporal trends and projections. Br J Ophthalmol 2019 Jul;103(7):863-870

Date

09/14/2018

Pubmed ID

30209082

DOI

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312068

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85053205209 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence and causes of vision impairment in North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) from 1990 to 2015 and to forecast projections for 2020.

METHODS: Based on a systematic review of medical literature, the prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity (PVA) <3/60 in the better eye), moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; PVA <6/18 but ≥3/60) and mild vision impairment (PVA <6/12 but ≥6/18) was estimated for 2015 and 2020.

RESULTS: The age-standardised prevalence of blindness and MSVI for all ages and genders decreased from 1990 to 2015, from 1.72 (0.53-3.13) to 0.95% (0.32%-1.71%), and from 6.66 (3.09-10.69) to 4.62% (2.21%-7.33%), respectively, with slightly higher figures for women than men. Cataract was the most common cause of blindness in 1990 and 2015, followed by uncorrected refractive error. Uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of MSVI in the NAME region in 1990 and 2015, followed by cataract. A reduction in the proportions of blindness and MSVI due to cataract, corneal opacity and trachoma is predicted by 2020. Conversely, an increase in the proportion of blindness attributable to uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy is expected.

CONCLUSIONS: In 2015 cataract and uncorrected refractive error were the major causes of vision loss in the NAME region. Proportions of vision impairment from cataract, corneal opacity and trachoma are expected to decrease by 2020, and those from uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are predicted to increase by 2020.

Author List

Kahloun R, Khairallah M, Resnikoff S, Cicinelli MV, Flaxman SR, Das A, Jonas JB, Keeffe JE, Kempen JH, Leasher J, Limburg H, Naidoo K, Pesudovs K, Silvester AJ, Tahhan N, Taylor HR, Wong TY, Bourne RRA, Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Africa, Northern
Cataract
Corneal Opacity
Diabetic Retinopathy
Humans
Macular Degeneration
Middle East
Prevalence
Trachoma
Vision, Low
Visual Acuity