title: Impact of a sight-saver clinic on the prevalence of blindness in northern KwaZulu.
abstract: The prevalence of blindness in the Ingwavuma district of northern KwaZulu was 1% (95% confidence interval 0.75 - 1.25) in 1990, and the prevalence of blindness due solely to age-related cataract was 0.39% (95% CI 0.24 - 0.54). Eight sight-saver clinics were held between 1990 and 1993. Nine hundred and thirteen patients were seen and 113 cataract extractions performed at a cost of R62,000. The prevalence of blindness due solely to age-related cataract was reduced by 25% to 0.29% (95% CI 0.17 - 0.41). The overall prevalence of blindness was reduced by 4% to 0.96% (95% CI 0.72 - 1.20). The provision of aphakic spectacles to aphakic patients whose spectacles have either been lost or broken would effect a further 11% reduction to 0.85% (95% CI 0.63 - 1.07). The establishment of a permanent sight-saver clinic staffed by an ophthalmic medical assistant who is working full-time in this capacity would facilitate an improvement in the delivery of eye care in the area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Edendale Hospital.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Stulting
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001036:Aphakia, Postcataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005139:Eyeglasses; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology*