Blindness and low vision in a tertiary ophthalmologic center in Thailand: the importance of cytomegalovirus retinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the causes of blindness and low vision in patients consulting a tertiary ophthalmologic center in northern Thailand.


METHODS
The study population included 2,951 new consecutive patients from the Department of Ophthalmology at University Hospital in Chiang-Mai, Thailand. Main outcome measures were blindness and low vision, which were defined according to World Health Organization criteria.


RESULTS
Of 2,951 patients, 369 (12.5%) had blindness and/or low vision (bilateral blindness in 73, unilateral blindness in 129, bilateral low vision in 77, and unilateral low vision in 90). Of the etiological causes of visual loss, age-related ocular disease was the most frequent (128 patients [35%]) followed by infections (66 patients [18%]) and trauma (43 patients [12%]). Although infections and trauma were the predominant causes of blindness, age-related disorders were frequently found in patients with low vision. Of anatomical sites, the lens (134 patients [36%]) was the main location of visual loss, closely followed by disorders of the retina and/or uvea (126 patients [34%]). Blindness and low vision were considered avoidable in 70% of cases. Of 73 patients with bilateral blindness, 14 had active cytomegalovirus retinitis, accounting for 19% of all patients with bilateral blindness.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common causes of blindness and low vision in a tertiary center in northern Thailand were age-related ocular disorders and infections, which were predominantly cases of cytomegalovirus retinitis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
Pathanapitoon
Kessara
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intawaroros Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. kpathana@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
Ausayakhun
Somsanguan
S
Kunavisarut
Paradee
P
Wattananikorn
Sopa
S
Ausayakhun
Sakarin
S
Leeungurastien
Thidarat
T
Yodprom
Rapeeporn
R
Narongjunchai
Duanpen
D
Rothova
Aniki
A
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology