Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:905-906 ( October )
National survey of blindness and low vision in Lebanon
A M Mansour,a
Kassem Kassak,b
Monique Chaya,b
Talal Hourani,c
Abla Sibai,b
M N Alameddinec
a Department of Ophthalmology,
American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, b Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, American
University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, c The International Agency for Prevention of
Blindness, Nicosia, Cyprus
Correspondence to: A Mansour, MD, Department of
Ophthalmology, American University of Beirut,
Lebanon.
Accepted for publication 1 May 1997
AIMS
To survey level of blindness and low vision
in Lebanon.
METHODSA population survey was undertaken in
10 148 individuals to measure the prevalence and identify the causes
of blindness in Lebanon.
RESULTSThe prevalence of blindness was 0.6% and
that of low vision 3.9%. The major causes of blindness were cataract
(41.3%) and uncorrected large refractive error (12.6%).
CONCLUSIONMost causes of blindness in Lebanon can
be controlled by various educational and medical programmes.
© 1997 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
