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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness, cataract surgical coverage and outcomes of cataract surgery in Libya
Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Volume 20, No. 1, Year 2013
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Description
Purpose: To assess the major causes of avoidable blindness, and outcomes and barriers to cataract services in Libya. Methods: A stratified multistage cluster random sample study was conducted in the four regions of Libya. Visual acuity and lens assessment were performed on all subjects. Those with presenting visual acuity <6/18 in either or both eyes were further investigated to determine cause(s) of impairment. Barriers to cataract surgery were investigated. Visual outcomes of subjects with surgery performed were assessed. Results: A total of 8538 persons aged ≥ 50 years were examined across the four regions. The prevalence of blindness was 3.25% (3.15% with best correction), which varied across the regions (2.94-3.80%); after adjustment for age and sex, the prevalence was 2.66%. Major causes of blindness were cataract (29%), glaucoma (24%) and other corneal scars (14%). Causes were similar across all regions except in the south. Avoidable causes were responsible for 60.6% of blindness. Major causes of visual impairment were cataract (31.2%), diabetic retinopathy (16.6%) and posterior segment diseases (15.1%). Cataract surgical coverage among those with visual acuity <3/60 was 95.4%, with no sex differences. About 38% of cataract-operated eyes had poor outcome even after best correction (35%). There was poor outcome in 33% of pseudophakic eyes with best correction. The major barriers to service uptake were "waiting for maturity" (26%), "unaware of treatment" (24%) and "God's will/destiny" (17%). Conclusion: Libya needs to improve the quality of cataract surgery across all the regions. The southern region needs improvement in both quality and coverage of services. © 2013 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Rabiu, Mansur Mohammed
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Prevention of Blindness Union
Jenf, Mansour
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Zawiat Eldahmany
Tripoli Eye Hospital
Fituri, Suad
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Zawiat Eldahmany
Tripoli Eye Hospital
Choudhury, Abdulhanan
Egypt, Cairo
Who Regional Office
Agbabiaka, Idris
Saudi Arabia
Qunfuda General Hospital
Mousa, Ahmed A.
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
College of Medicine
Statistics
Citations: 20
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.3109/09286586.2012.746994
ISSN:
09286586
e-ISSN:
17445086
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Libya