Prevalence of visual impairment and eye diseases in Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Abstract

The prevalence and etiology of visual loss and eye diseases were determined in a resident Afghan refugee community in northern Pakistan. The survey included 1156 people and revealed that 2.1% of the population were blind and 6.9% were visually impaired according to WHO criteria. The leading causes of blindness included cataract [‎62.5%]‎, uncorrected refractive errors [‎16.6%]‎, retinal degeneration/dystrophy [‎12.5%]‎, glaucoma [‎4.2%]‎ and microphthalmos [‎4.2%]‎. The causes of visual loss were uncorrected refractive errors [‎46.2%]‎, cataract [‎32.7%]‎ and corneal opacities [‎4.8%]‎. These conditions were also important causes of unilateral lost vision. Active trachoma was found in 3.7% of all children under 10 years of age