Survey of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Botswana.
Publication/Presentation Date
10-1-2011
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In terms of blind-person years, the worldwide burden of childhood blindness is second only to cataracts. In many developing countries, 30-72% of childhood blindness is avoidable. The authors conducted this study to determine the causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment (VI) in Botswana, a middle-income country with limited access to ophthalmic care.
METHODS: This study was conducted over 4 weeks in eight cities and villages in Botswana. Children were recruited through a radio advertisement and local outreach programmes. Those ≤ 15 years of age with visual acuity < 6/18 in either eye were enrolled. The WHO/Prevention of Blindness Eye Examination Record for Children with Blindness and Low Vision was used to record data.
RESULTS: The authors enrolled 241 children, 79 with unilateral and 162 with bilateral VI. Of unilateral cases, 89% were avoidable: 23% preventable (83% trauma-related) and 66% treatable (40% refractive error and 31% amblyopia). Of bilateral cases, 63% were avoidable: 5% preventable and 58% treatable (33% refractive error and 31% congenital cataracts).
CONCLUSION: Refractive error, which is easily correctable with glasses, is the most common cause of bilateral VI, with cataracts a close second. A nationwide intervention is currently being planned to reduce the burden of avoidable childhood VI in Botswana.
Volume
95
Issue
10
First Page
1365
Last Page
1370
ISSN
1468-2079
Published In/Presented At
Nallasamy, S., Anninger, W. V., Quinn, G. E., Kroener, B., Zetola, N. M., & Nkomazana, O. (2011). Survey of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Botswana. The British journal of ophthalmology, 95(10), 1365–1370. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2010.189068
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
21242581
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics
Document Type
Article