title: Estimated prevalence of glaucomatous blindness in the Negev region of Israel.
abstract: An estimate of the prevalence of glaucomatous blindness in the Negev region of Israel was obtained by pooling two sources of available data: a state-run regional registry of blind people and the records of the glaucoma clinic of the Soroka Medical Centre, Beer Sheva. The denominator was the total population insured with the Kupat Holim (Sick Fund) of the Histadrut (General Federation of Labour). Glaucoma was the cause of blindness in only 10% of registered cases. Ninety-five individuals fulfilling the blindness criteria (3/60 or less, or a reduction of the visual field to 20 degrees or less in the better eye) were identified from both sources: this represents a total population prevalence of 39 per 100 000 population and 153 per 100 000 for those aged 41 and over. Glaucomatous blindness was more frequent in males than females, but the risk appeared to increase exponentially with age in both sexes. These data provide a previously lacking quantitative estimate of the prevalence of glaucomatous blindness in the Negev region.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors