Introduction. Low vision is a worldwide health problem in both developing and developed countries. A national survey of low vision and blindness in Ethiopia showed that the prevalence of low vision was 3.7% and that of blindness was 1.6%, whereas there is no evidence in the study area. Purpose. The study was aimed to assess the proportion and associated factors of low vision at the University of Gondar tertiary eye care and training center. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 727 study participants with a systematic random sampling technique from April 18 to May 16, 2019. Data were collected through the use of a structural questionnaire and physical eye examination. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7, and analysis was performed by using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. The binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with low vision, and variables with a P value of <0.05 in a multivariable binary logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Results. A total of 715 study participants have participated in this study with a mean age of 49.39 ± 19.93 years. The prevalence of low vision was 35.7% (95% CI: 32.3, 39.3). Being female (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.28), no formal educational level (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.25, 4.02), history of cataract surgery (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.53, 4.36), and age ≥ 70 years (AOR: 3.96; 95% CI: 2.21, 7.10) were significantly associated with low vision. Conclusion and Recommendation. The prevalence of low vision found in this study was high as compared with the national and global magnitude. Older age, being female, previous history of cataract surgery, and no formal education were independently and significantly associated with low vision. Cataract and uncorrected refractive errors were identified as the main causes of low vision. Therefore, it requires a plan to provide an eye care education to the community, increasing the quality of cataract surgery and refractive service for the community in the catchment area.

Introduction. Strabismus/squint is an ocular misalignment in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It is an avoidable cause of blindness and has a global prevalence which ranges from 2% to 6%. Knowledge of eye diseases is important in encouraging people to seek early treatment, which further helps in reducing the burden of visual impairment. Studies in Ethiopia showed that the level of good knowledge was 37%. There is a lack of information regarding knowledge and related factors of strabismus in the study area and limited in Ethiopia at large. Objective. The aim of this study was to asses knowledge about strabismus and associated factors among adults in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a pretested structured questionnaire through face to face interview from April 17 to May 01, 2019. Using multistage random sampling, 553 participants were included. Data from the entire questionnaire were coded, entered into Epi info version 7, and exported to SPSS version 20 for processing and analysis. Binary logistic regression was fitted, and variables with P value <0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Results. A total of 553 adults with a response rate of 93.25% participated in the study. The median age was 33 (IQR = 14) years. Among the participants, 52.3% (95% CI: 47.9–56.4) had good knowledge towards strabismus. Being a student (AOR = 2.15, (95% CI: 1.11–4.13) was positively associated, while monthly income >5000 birrs (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26–0.76) was negatively associated with good knowledge about strabismus. Conclusion. Almost half of the participants had good knowledge. Occupation and monthly income had a significant association with knowledge about strabismus. Since the source of information (TV/radio and Internet) was extremely important for the reliability and the level of knowledge, it is better to have sufficient media coverage.

Objective: Diabetic retinopathy is an evident complication of diabetes on eye and contributes for significant portion of blindness worldwide. In Ethiopia, data are lacking on awareness and knowledge of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients. This study desired to assess knowledge of diabetic retinopathy and it is relating factors among diabetic patients attending at a General Hospital in Ethiopia. Methods: We have interviewed 306 diabetic patients who were attending at Debre Tabor General Hospital. Binary logistic regression model was used to recognize associated factors to good knowledge of diabetic retinopathy. Adjusted odds ratio was used to show the power of association. A p-value of less than 0.05 was set to determine its statistical significance. Result: The diabetic patients had a median age of 45 (range = 30) years. From the total diabetic patients, 242 (79.10%) knew that diabetes could affect the eye and 81 (26.50%) were aware of diabetic retinopathy. From those who were informed of diabetic retinopathy, 32 (39.50%) (95% confidence interval = 27.90–51.20) had good knowledge of diabetic retinopathy. High educational status (adjusted odds ratio = 4.08, 95% confidence interval = 1.00–16.50) and non-government employee (adjusted odds ratio = 0.19, 95% confidence interval = 0.05–0.70) were significantly associated with good knowledge of diabetic retinopathy. Physicians and eye doctors were the most frequent source of information for the awareness of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: From the total diabetic patients recruited in the study, 39.5% of them obtained information about diabetic retinopathy and the overall knowledge was poor among them. Knowledge of diabetes can affect the eye and it causes blindness was good among majority of the participants. Higher educational status and being a non-government employee were determined to be important predisposing factors of good knowledge. It is also better to involve diabetic educators and counselors in educating diabetic patients on the serious complication of diabetes on eye.

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