Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia

Objective: To determine the incidence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among patients attending eye clinics in a tertiary care setting. Method: The retrospective study was conducted in Alkharj city, Saudi Arabia, from May to November 2022, and comprised records of patients who visite...

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Main Authors: Nasraddin Bahakim, Ayman Geddawy, Abdulrahman Aldarrab, Mansour Mohammad Alajmi, Mohammed Alsaidan, Maher Aljuhani, Abdulqayyum Hussain, Abdulhakim Alqahtani, Abdulmajeed Alshaikhi, Sameer Al-Ghamdi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pakistan Medical Association 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
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Online Access:https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/20043
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author Nasraddin Bahakim
Ayman Geddawy
Abdulrahman Aldarrab
Mansour Mohammad Alajmi
Mohammed Alsaidan
Maher Aljuhani
Abdulqayyum Hussain
Abdulhakim Alqahtani
Abdulmajeed Alshaikhi
Sameer Al-Ghamdi
author_facet Nasraddin Bahakim
Ayman Geddawy
Abdulrahman Aldarrab
Mansour Mohammad Alajmi
Mohammed Alsaidan
Maher Aljuhani
Abdulqayyum Hussain
Abdulhakim Alqahtani
Abdulmajeed Alshaikhi
Sameer Al-Ghamdi
author_sort Nasraddin Bahakim
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To determine the incidence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among patients attending eye clinics in a tertiary care setting. Method: The retrospective study was conducted in Alkharj city, Saudi Arabia, from May to November 2022, and comprised records of patients who visited eye clinics of two main hospitals in the city with complaints of low vision or blindness between January 2021 and December 2021. Medical history, family history and ophthalmological examination results of each patient were reviewed, and the causes and frequency of occurrence of visual impairment and blindness were determined. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Results: Of the 433 patients, 269(62.1%) were female and 164(37.9%) were male. The overall mean age was 38.52 ±21.90 years (range; 5-90 years) with a median age of 37 years (IQR: 19-58).  Refractive error 271(62.6%), cataract 69(15.9%) and diabetic retinopathy 37(8.5%) were the major causes of visual impairment, followed by amblyopia 15(3.5), corneal opacity 12(2.8), and glaucoma 8(1.8). Refractive errors, amblyopia, and corneal opacity were more common among those aged 5-20 years, while visual impairment caused by cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma was more common in older age groups. Conclusion: Refractive error was found to be the major cause among the participants with mild to severe visual impairment. Key Words: Visual impairment, Refractive error, Cataract, Diabetic retinopathy.
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spelling doaj-art-c2f5a88ddf664c58991c38dc733273fa2025-08-20T02:41:26ZengPakistan Medical AssociationJournal of the Pakistan Medical Association0030-99822025-02-01750310.47391/JPMA.20043Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi ArabiaNasraddin Bahakim0Ayman Geddawy1Abdulrahman Aldarrab2Mansour Mohammad Alajmi3Mohammed Alsaidan4Maher Aljuhani5Abdulqayyum Hussain6Abdulhakim Alqahtani7Abdulmajeed Alshaikhi8Sameer Al-Ghamdi9Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaBasic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Military Hospital, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Military Hospital, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia Objective: To determine the incidence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among patients attending eye clinics in a tertiary care setting. Method: The retrospective study was conducted in Alkharj city, Saudi Arabia, from May to November 2022, and comprised records of patients who visited eye clinics of two main hospitals in the city with complaints of low vision or blindness between January 2021 and December 2021. Medical history, family history and ophthalmological examination results of each patient were reviewed, and the causes and frequency of occurrence of visual impairment and blindness were determined. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Results: Of the 433 patients, 269(62.1%) were female and 164(37.9%) were male. The overall mean age was 38.52 ±21.90 years (range; 5-90 years) with a median age of 37 years (IQR: 19-58).  Refractive error 271(62.6%), cataract 69(15.9%) and diabetic retinopathy 37(8.5%) were the major causes of visual impairment, followed by amblyopia 15(3.5), corneal opacity 12(2.8), and glaucoma 8(1.8). Refractive errors, amblyopia, and corneal opacity were more common among those aged 5-20 years, while visual impairment caused by cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma was more common in older age groups. Conclusion: Refractive error was found to be the major cause among the participants with mild to severe visual impairment. Key Words: Visual impairment, Refractive error, Cataract, Diabetic retinopathy. https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/20043Visual impairmentRefractive errorCataractDiabetic retinopathy
spellingShingle Nasraddin Bahakim
Ayman Geddawy
Abdulrahman Aldarrab
Mansour Mohammad Alajmi
Mohammed Alsaidan
Maher Aljuhani
Abdulqayyum Hussain
Abdulhakim Alqahtani
Abdulmajeed Alshaikhi
Sameer Al-Ghamdi
Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Visual impairment
Refractive error
Cataract
Diabetic retinopathy
title Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
title_full Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
title_short Visual impairment and blindness in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
title_sort visual impairment and blindness in alkharj saudi arabia
topic Visual impairment
Refractive error
Cataract
Diabetic retinopathy
url https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/20043
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