title: Causes of visual impairment and blindness among the middle-aged and elderly in northern Jordan.
abstract: Causes of bilateral low vision (BLLV) and bilateral blindness (BLB) were investigated among 720 outpatients aged > 45 years in Irbid, Jordan, between July 1999 and October 2000. All received full ophthalmic examinations. BLLV was defined as visual acuity < 6/18 but > 3/60 in the better eye; BLB as acuity < 3/60 in the better eye. The leading cause of BLB and BLLV was cataract. Refractive error was the second major cause of BLLV. Other common causes were diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Age-related macular degeneration was the single cause of BLB and BLLV for only 1.6% and 2.8% respectively. A population-based survey of BLB and BLLV in the elderly, yearly vision examinations and an ophthalmic education programme are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Prince Rashed Bin Al-Hasan Hospital, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haddadin
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ereifej
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zawaida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haddadin
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D015984:Causality; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015351:Vision Screening; D014792:Visual Acuity