title: Causes of blindness in the western province of Cameroon.
abstract: 2,600 patients (1,416 females and 1,244 males) were consulted in the lone eye department of the Western Province of the Republic of Cameroon during the one-year period from 1st March 1991 to 29th February 1992. 176 or 7% (68 females and 108 males) were found to be blind in both eyes (bilateral blindness); while a further 202 or 8% (79 females and 123 males) were found to be blind in one eye (unilateral blindness). The main causes of bilateral blindness were: cataract (43.2%), glaucoma (20.4%), uveitis (8.5%), onchocerciasis (8.5%), cortical and visual pathway dysfunction (7.4%), and others (12%). The main causes of unilateral blindness were: trauma (37.6%), cataract (27.7%), glaucoma (10.9%), uveitis (5.9%), amblyopia (3.9%), non-onchocerciasis keratopathy (2.9%), neoplasm (2%), onchocerciasis (1.5%), and others (7.4%). Possible ways on how to combat these various causes of blindness are discussed. There is no ready explanation for the male predisposition to blindness in this series of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Provincial Hospital, Bafoussam, Cameroon.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabe Tambi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors