Etiology of Visual Impairment and Legal Blindness among the Young Men in Southeast Region of Turkey

Abstract

Summary Aim: To identify the etiology of serious visual impairment and legal blindness and to declare the preventive factors among young men who live in the southeast region of Turkey. Material and Method: Between January 2004 and December 2008, records of the patients who admitted to Ophthalmology Department of Diyarbakir Military Hospital were examined respectively. The study includes 2000 young men cases (20 to 30 years) whose visual acuity was worse than 0,05 with Snellen chart in at least one eye. Results: Among the patients’eyes of which visual acuity worse than 0,05 with Snellen chart; 11,6 % (232) were bilateral and 43,8 % (876) were only right eye and 44,6 % (892) were only left eye. The distribution of the etiology of the serious visual impairment and blindness was: 1. Trauma 68,4 % (1368), 2. Corneal opacities due to infectious diseases 10 % (200), 3. Congenital cataract 9,4 % (188), 4. Amblyopia due to strabismus and refractive errors 1,2 % (24) ve 5. Genetic eye disorders 10,6 % (212). The classification of the pathologies according to the anatomical segments of the eye was: Anterior segment disorders 53% (1060), posterior segment disorders % 21,2 (424), disintegration of the anatomy of the eye 24,8 % (496) and others 1% (20). Conclusion: It is possible to decrease the rate of prevalence and incidence of visual impairment and blindness both in this region and other parts of our country by creating systematic educational and health programs.