Impact of an educational programme on knowledge, beliefs, practices and expectations about care among adolescent glaucoma patients in Cairo

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of an educational programme on knowledge, beliefs, practices and expectations towards glaucoma and eye care among adolescent patients with glaucoma. A purposive sample of 50 patients with glaucoma aged 12-18 years, attending ophthalmology outpatient clinics in Cairo, Egypt, were given an educational programme focusing on information about glaucoma, correcting patients' incorrect beliefs and expectations, and demonstrations and retraining about eye care. A range of tools was used to assess patients before and after the programme: questionnaire, observation checklist, physical assessment sheet, childrens' depression scale, children manifest anxiety scale, self-esteem inventory and patients' expectations scale. The programme significantly improved patients' knowledge and beliefs about glaucoma and their practices and expectations concerning eye care. Innovative educational programmes about eye diseases are needed to improve patients' knowledge and practices

Causes of blindness in people aged 50 years and over: community-based versus hospital-based study

The causes of blindness in Yemen were determined in people aged 50+ years in both a communityand hospital-based study and documented using WHO/PBL criteria. In the community sample of 707 individuals in a rural area of Taiz governorate the prevalence of bilateral blindness was 7.9% and the main causes were cataract [71.4%] and age-related macular degeneration [ARMD] [14.3%]. Corneal opacities and uncorrected aphakia were rare [1 case each] and there were no cases of diabetic retinopathy. Unilateral blindness was found in 8.6% of the community sample. In a case-notes review of 1320 new patients attending an eye clinic in Sana'a, bilateral blindness was documented in 26.5% and unilateral blindness in 9.0% [main causes: cataract, glaucoma, ARMD, diabetic retinopathy, corneal opacities and trauma

Profile of childhood blindness and low vision in Yemen: a hospital-based study

A retrospective review of records determined the frequency and causes of low vision and blindness in all children aged <16 years attending an ophthalmic practice in Sana'a, Yemen between January and December 2001. Of the 1104 children studied, 45 [4.1%] were found to have bilateral blindness and 115 [10.4%] were unilaterally blind; 48 children [4.3%] were bilaterally visually impaired and 109 [9.9%] were unilaterally visually impaired. The main causes of bilateral blindness included cataract, glaucoma and retinal disorders. The most common causes of bilateral low vision included refractive errors, keratoconus and retinal disorders. These results provide a basis for planning blindness prevention programmes in Yemen

Comparison of Perkins, Tono-Pen and Schiotz tonometers in paediatric patients under general anaesthesia

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate if the Tono-Pen, Schiotz and Perkins tonometers could be used interchangeably in general practice for measuring elevated intraocular pressure. A total of 74 eyes of 37 paediatric patients under general anaesthesia were checked with all 3 tonometers. All of the tonometers gave significantly different measurements from each other. However, with a mean difference of 1.4 mmHg and 95% limits of agreement of -5.7 to +8.6, the greatest agreement was between the Perkins and Tono-Pen tonometers. The Perkins tonometer is a hand-held variant of the Goldmann tonometer [the gold standard for intraocular pressure measures]. Therefore the Tono-Pen with its ease of use and safety could be a reliable device for use in general practice

Oman Eye Study 2005: validity of screening tests used in the glaucoma survey

We carried out a validity assessment study for glaucoma screening procedures used during the survey conducted in Oman in 2005 on 6644 eyes in 3324 people >/= 30 years. Ocular pressure and fundus changes were the screening parameters used: glaucoma was found in 433 eyes. Sensitivity for ocular pressure was 49.7% and specificity 95.6%. For optic disc changes, sensitivity was 48.4% and specificity 97.9%. Combining both through parallel testing, sensitivity improved to 67.3% and specificity to 96.5%. An eye may, thus, be declared as not having glaucoma, but cannot be labelled as having glaucoma, using these parameters

Oman Eye Study 2005: prevalence and determinants of glaucoma

This community-based study was carried out to estimate the prevalence and identify the determinants of glaucoma in the Omani population in 2005-06. Residents of 75 randomly selected houses in 25 clusters participated in the survey. We interviewed and examined 3324 individuals aged >/= 30 years in their homes and in eye clinics to note personal details, glaucoma status and presence of selected risk factors: 180 were diagnosed as having glaucoma. Projected prevalence of glaucoma among the Omani population >/= 30 years was 4.75%. Open angle and angle closure types of glaucoma contributed 40.6% and 37.8% respectively. History of hypertension was negatively, and older age and family history of glaucoma were positively, associated with glaucoma

Causes of visual impairment and blindness among the middle-aged and elderly in northern Jordan

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

Prevalence of visual impairment and eye diseases in Afghan refugees in Pakistan

The prevalence and etiology of visual loss and eye diseases were determined in a resident Afghan refugee community in northern Pakistan. The survey included 1156 people and revealed that 2.1% of the population were blind and 6.9% were visually impaired according to WHO criteria. The leading causes of blindness included cataract [62.5%], uncorrected refractive errors [16.6%], retinal degeneration/dystrophy [12.5%], glaucoma [4.2%] and microphthalmos [4.2%]. The causes of visual loss were uncorrected refractive errors [46.2%], cataract [32.7%] and corneal opacities [4.8%]. These conditions were also important causes of unilateral lost vision. Active trachoma was found in 3.7% of all children under 10 years of age