Prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in the Extreme North Province of Cameroon, West Africa.
A survey to determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in the Extreme North Province of Cameroon was conducted in the Spring of 1992. A total of 10,647 people age 6 years and older was selected from a multi-stage, clustered sample stratified by ecological zone. The subjects were examined by ophthalmologist-led teams for visual acuity and ocular diseases. Approximately 1.2% of the sample was bilaterally blind by the World Health Organization classification (Category 3) of vision less than the ability to count fingers at 3 meters. Similarly to results found in other developing countries, senile cataract was the most common diagnosis encountered and the most frequent principal cause of low vision and blindness.
Wilson
M R
MR
Dept. Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Inst., UCLA 90024, USA.
Mansour
M
M
Ross-Degnan
D
D
Moukouri
E
E
Fobi
G
G
Alemayehu
W
W
Martone
J F
JF
Casey
R
R
Bazargan
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology