Prevalence and major causes of visual impairment in Iranian adults: A systematic review

Mohammadi, Saeed; Saeedi-Anari, Ghasem; Ashrafi, Elham; Mohammadi, Seyed‐Mehrdad; Farzadfar, Farshad; Lashay, Alireza; Hashemi, Hassan

doi:10.4103/meajo.meajo_168_16

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…[12] A recent systematic review on subjects aged 50 years and over in Iran showed an estimate of 1.3% and 4.2% for the prevalence of blindness and moderate to severe VI at the national level, which is less than our study. [4] Women in the current study, like previous studies in Iran,[34678910111213] had a relatively higher prevalence of SVI than men, but the gender difference in the prevalence of blindness and VI was not statistically significant, which is contrary to the globally picture that overall women to men blindness ratio is more than 1. [14]…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

“…The results of a recent systematic review in the Iranian population aged 50 and over showed that more than half a million people ≥50 years of age have different levels of VI. [4] Considering the increased life expectancy, demographic transitions in the next decades, there will be more people with VI if appropriate preventive and curative interventions are not implemented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Kurdistan, Iran

Ashrafi

Mohammadi

Katibeh

et al. 2019

J Ophthalmic Vis Res

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Purpose: To determine the magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment (VI) in Kurdistan, using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology. Methods: In this population-based cross sectional study, 99 clusters were selected through probability proportional to size sampling. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using a standard tumbling “E” chart. Ophthalmologists examined participants with VA < 6/18 in both eyes. The cause of VI in the better eye or the most treatable cause was considered as the primary cause of VI. Results: A total of 3203 (response rate: 92.4%) individuals aged 50 years and older participated, of whom 1657 (51.7%) were female. The standardized prevalence of blindness, severe visual impairment (SVI), and moderate visual impairment (MVI) based on available correction (presenting VA) were 2.1% (1.5-2.6), 1.7% (1.2-2.2), and 9.6%(8.4-10.8), respectively. The proportion of avoidable causes of blindness, SVI, and MVI were 58.1%, 78.4%, and 83.4%, respectively. The most common cause of blindness and SVI was cataract (27.4% and 60.8% respectively), followed by age-related macular degeneration (25.8% and 13.7%, respectively). The leading causes of MVI were uncorrected refractive errors (RE) (37.2%) and cataract (33.6%). Conclusion: The prevalence of blindness in the study population seems comparable to the region. According to our results, blindness, SVI, and MVI were mostly due to avoidable causes. Cataract and refractive errors are the principal causes of blindness and VI in Kurdistan.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Kurdistan, Iran

Ashrafi

Mohammadi

Katibeh

et al. 2019

J Ophthalmic Vis Res

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“…More than half a million people aged ≥50 years have different levels of VI in Iran ( 8 ). Besides, more people would develop VIs if appropriate preventive and curative interventions were not implemented ( 9 ). A study on unavoidable blindness in people aged 50 years in Tehran, Iran estimated that the prevalence of standard blindness, severe VI, and VI to be 1.33%, 1.39%, and 6.91%, respectively, indicating that these rates were slightly higher than the standardized age prevalence ( 10 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders in Iran

Rezapour,

Adel,

Aboutorabi

et al. 2023

ijph

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Background: Globally, population growth and ageing are expected to increase the risk of vision impairment for more people. Eye disorders impose heavy social and economic burdens on communities through increased poverty, reduced quality of life, and decreased employment. Weaimed to calculate the economic burden of eye diseases in Iran. Methods: Prevalence-based and top-down cost estimation methods were used with a sociological approach. Data were collected from the Northeastern Ophthalmology Center Institute for Health Assessment, and Evaluation, besides the 2017 census. Eye diseases were classified according to the ICD10. Data were analyzed using Excel 2016 software. Results: Survey data were collected from 19,113 patients with vision loss and eye disorders. The average cost of vision loss/eye disorders was estimated to be $250.3. The findings indicated that the economic burden of visual diseases was $2,844 million a year, with direct medical costs comprising 87% (66% of inpatient and 21% of outpatient) and direct non-medical and indirect costs estimated at 6% and 7%, respectively. Furthermore, 72.8% of direct medical costs was paid by insurance companies, 20.6% by patients, and 6.6% by the government. Conclusion: Eye diseases and vision loss in Iran, as in other countries, are costly for the health system and society. Instituting effective policies and measures to address this rising burden should be a national priority. Another suggestion in this area would be to focus on preventive care and policies such as health education, highlighting the role of reorientation of health services and advocacy (for policies that promote eye health), where relevant.

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“…The prevalence of VI differs in various populations, and several factors such as age distribution, 4 sex, 5 economic status, and living place 6 markedly contribute to this inequality. However, it should be noted that the importance of VI lies in its consequences such as decreased educational–economic opportunities 7 and quality of life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic inequality in visual impairment: A study in deprived rural population of Iran

Zarei¹,

Pakzad²,

Yekta³

et al. 2021

J Curr Ophthalmol

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Purpose: To determine economic inequality in visual impairment (VI) and its determinants in the rural population of Iran. Methods: In this population-based, cross-sectional study, 3850 individuals, aged 3–93 years were selected from the north and southwest regions of Iran using multi-staged stratified cluster random sampling. The outcome was VI, measured in 20 feet. Economic status was constructed using principal component analysis on home assets. The concentration index ( C ) was used to determine inequality, and the gap between low and high economic groups was decomposed to explained and unexplained portions using the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition method. Results: Of the 3850 individuals that were invited, 3314 participated in the study. The data of 3095 participants were finally analyzed. The C was −0.248 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.347 - −0.148), indicating a pro-poor inequality (concentration of VI in low economic group). The prevalence (95% CI) of VI was 1.72% (0.92–2.52) in the high economic group and 10.66% (8.84–12.48) in the low economic group with a gap of 8.94% (6.95–10.93) between the two groups. The explained and unexplained portions comprised 67.22% and 32.77% of the gap, respectively. Among the study variables, age (13.98%) and economic status (80.70%) were significant determinants of inequality in the explained portion. The variables of education (coefficient: −4.41; P < 0.001), age (coefficient: 14.09; P < 0.001), living place (coefficient: 6.96; P : 0.006), and economic status (coefficient: −7.37; P < 0.001) had significant effects on inequality in the unexplained portion. Conclusions: The result showed that VI had a higher concentration in the low economic group, and the major contributor of this inequality was economic status. Therefore, policymakers should formulate appropriate interventions to improve the economic status and alleviate economic inequality.

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Prevalence and major causes of visual impairment in Iranian adults: A systematic review

Cited by 11 publications

References 24 publications

Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Kurdistan, Iran

Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Kurdistan, Iran

Economic Burden of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders in Iran

Economic inequality in visual impairment: A study in deprived rural population of Iran

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