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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
arts and humanities
Causes of childhood blindness: Results from West Africa, South India and Chile
Eye (Basingstoke), Volume 7, No. 1, Year 1993
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Description
Using World Health Organization definitions of visual loss and a standardised methodology, 905 children were examined in Chile, West Africa and South India. Of these 806 (89%) suffered from blindness (BL) or severe visual impairment (SVI). Causes of SVI and BL were classified anatomically and aetiologically, and avoidable causes identified. In W. Africa (n=284) the major anatomical cause of SVI/BL was corneal scar/phthisis bulbi (35.9%). Retinal disease accounted for 20.4%, cataract 15.5% and glaucoma 13.0%. Aetiologically 33.8% of SVI/BL was due to childhood factors and 21.1% to hereditary disease. In S. India (n=305) the major anatomical cause of SVI/BL was corneal scar/phthisis bulbi (38.4%). Retinal disease accounted for 22.6%, cataract 7.4% and glaucoma 3%. Aetiologically 37.0% of SVI/BL was due to childhood factors and 29.8% to hereditary disease. In Chile (n=217) the major anatomical cause of SVI/BL was retinal disease (47.0%). Cataract accounted for 9.2%, glaucoma 8.3% and 6.9% was due to corneal pathology. Aetiologically 30.4% of SVI/BL was due to hereditary factors, and 20.8% to perinatal factors of which four-fifths (16.6%) was due to retinopathy of prematurity. Avoidable conditions accounted for 70%, 47% and 54% of cases in W. Africa, S. India and Chile respectively. © 1993, The Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gilbert, Clare Elizabeth
United Kingdom, London
Ucl Institute of Ophthalmology
Canovas, R.
Chile, Concepcion
Corporación de Ayuda al Limitado Visual
Hagan, Maria
South Africa, Ghana
Kole bu Hospital
Rao, S.
India, Madurai
Aravind Eye Hospital
Foster, Allen
United Kingdom, London
Ucl Institute of Ophthalmology
Statistics
Citations: 141
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/eye.1993.39
ISSN:
0950222X
e-ISSN:
14765454
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Locations
Multi-countries