RESUMO
PURPOSE: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness and the second cause of low vision in the world. In the world, Asia has the highest number of blind population. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the frequency of clinical cataracts in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frequency of clinical cataract was defined based on the international criteria and the measured outcome of the disease. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. We explored PubMed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, and national databases (scientific information database, Magiran) to evaluate the clinical cataract of cataract in the Iranian populations from 1995 to July 2017. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.0 software. RESULTS: Of 283 studies, 27 studies utilized meta-analysis. In 2017, the pooled overall frequency of clinical cataract in 59668 people was 9.27% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.09, 10.45, I2 = 98.82%). Based on subgroup analysis, in the random effect method, the frequency of clinical cataract in males and females were 8.03% (CI: 6.78, 9.28) and 8.32% (CI: 7.08, 9.55), respectively. CONCLUSION: Regarding the high frequency of clinical cataract in Iran, it seems that paying attention to the results of the current study and the application of international policy plans may contribute to better cataract control in Iran.
Assuntos
Catarata/epidemiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Irã (Geográfico)/epidemiologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a bilateral, chronic, external ocular inflammatory disorder that mainly affects patients in their first or second decade. This study was designed to compare tacrolimus and interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha-2b) eye drops in the treatment of VKC. METHODS: In this randomized, double-masked clinical trial, 40 consecutive patients with VKC were sent to a referral eye hospital in a tropical region southeast of Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 0.005% tacrolimus or IFN alpha-2b (1,000,000 units/cc). Chi-square and t tests were used for comparison of outcomes between both groups. RESULTS: Mean ± SD age was 11.1 ± 5.2 years. Thirty-one patients (77.5%) were male. The mean duration of disease was 3.4 ± 2.9 years. In this study, the signs and symptoms were significantly reduced in patients after treatment in both groups (P = 0.0001). In the tacrolimus group, all patients responded to treatment whereas only one subject in the IFN group failed to respond (P = 0.99). Side effects in both groups were mild and tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that both 0.005% tacrolimus and IFN alpha-2b are effective and appear to be safe in treatment of recalcitrant VKC.