Results of a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) in Eritrea

Abstract

The prevalence of blindness was high compared to recent surveys in Africa. Visual outcome after cataract surgery potentially could be improved by more detailed pre-operative examination, coaching of surgeons, and provision of adequate optical correction, including routine monitoring of visual outcome after cataract surgery. The development of intervention programs for refractive error and glaucoma should be considered.

Blindness and visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive error in sub-Saharan Africa: review of recent population-based studies

“…14 Most studies (9/11) reported some cases of SVI due to URE, with the highest estimate 0.48% (14.6% of SVI) in Eritrea 11. The proportion of moderate VI due to URE was markedly higher in all studies although there was considerable heterogeneity among studies.…”

“…The highest prevalence was 0.16% (95% CI 0.13 to 0.18) in Eritrea11 and many surveys found no one blind from URE. Similarly, the prevalence of SVI and VI due to URE in the published studies, ranging from 0 to 0.48% and from 0.66 to 5.71% respectively, is also lower than WHO estimate of 5.95% for the two together.…”

Blindness and visual impairment due to age-related cataract in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of recent population-based studies

“…The only other country contributing two separate published studies was Tanzania, including RAAB surveys from Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar 20 21. Additional RAAB surveys were performed in Botswana,9 Burundi,22 Malawi,17 Rwanda,19 Eritrea12 and Kenya 16. Five studies were national surveys 9 12–14 18.…”

Elimination of avoidable blindness due to cataract: Where do we prioritize and how should we monitor this decade?

“…Data from five studies in South America (Brazil,[25] Chile,[24] Guatemala,[11] Mexico,[24] and Venezuela[24]), six studies in Africa (Botswana,[18] Eritrea,[10] Kenya,[21] Malawi,[6] Rwanda,[7] and Tanzania[9]), and four in Asia (China,[2] India,[3] Iran,[29] and Nepal[1]) were used [Fig. 1].…”