Abstract
Objective:This review was undertaken to highlight the worldwide prevalence and causes of visual impairment (VI), on the basis of a wide range of recent and clearly defined data and in comparison with published articles from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Methods:These data are mainly based on PubMed indexed journal articles. Some representative surveys from each of the six WHO regions across the globe were included in this review with special reference to Saudi Arabian studies.Results:Published literature show that the prevalence and causes of VI varies markedly in different parts of the world and from region to region within the same country. Cataract, uncorrected refractive errors and glaucoma were shown to be the leading causes of VI worldwide and in Saudi Arabia. Diabetic retinopathy was found to have more contribution in Saudi Arabia due the higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this country.Conclusion:Epidemiological surveys about the prevalence and causes of VI are crucial for the formulation of preventive and curative measures. Data about VI are still scarce with a need to make wider population based surveys, worldwide and in Saudi Arabia for in-depth evaluation of the problem and better strategies to reduce the burden of VI.
Highlights
Visual Impairment (VI) is recognized as a global significant health problem which has a serious impact on the personal, economic, and social life of an individual
In Saudi Arabia limited epidemiological surveys pertaining to this problem have been carried out, which indicate that both the prevalence and causes of VI vary in different geographical locations of the country
There has been an increase in the number of population based surveys pertaining to the prevalence and causes of visual impairment conducted in many countries
Summary
Visual Impairment (VI) is recognized as a global significant health problem which has a serious impact on the personal, economic, and social life of an individual. Population based surveys pertaining to prevalence and causes of VI have already been conducted in more than 65 countries. In Saudi Arabia limited epidemiological surveys pertaining to this problem have been carried out, which indicate that both the prevalence and causes of VI vary in different geographical locations of the country. People can suffer from the problems in their vision at any stage of their life. Most of these problems can be resolved with the use of corrective measures like spectacles or contact lenses. Some problems in vision may require medical treatment or surgical interventions while as visual acuity in some other conditions cannot be completely recovered even with all of these curative measures. Table-I: Prevalence and major cause of VI reported from across the WHO regions
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