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British Journal of Ophthalmology 1997;81:443-447; doi:10.1136/bjo.81.6.443
Copyright © 1997 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:443-447 ( June )

Blindness and visual impairment in a region endemic for onchocerciasis in the Central African Republic

E C Schwartz,a R Huss,b A Hopkins,c B Dadjim,d P Madjitoloum,d C Hénault,e V Klaussa

a University Eye Clinic LMU, Munich, Germany, b German Technical Co-operation, Projet soins de santé primaires, Région sanitaire No 3, Bossangoa, Central African Republic, c Programme National de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose et la Cécité (PNLOC), Bossangoa, Central African Republic, d Université de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic, e Biometric Center for Therapeutic Studies, Munich, Germany

Correspondence to: E C Schwartz, University Eye Clinic LMU, Mathildenstrasse 8, D-80336 München, Germany.

Accepted for publication 12 February 1997

AIMS---A population based survey of blindness and visual impairment was conducted in the district of Bossangoa, Central African Republic.
Methods---A total of 48 communities were randomly selected, and 6086 people examined.
RESULTS---The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity in the better eye less than 3/60) was 2.2%, and visual impairment 3.0% (6/24 to 3/60 in the better eye). The major causes of blindness were onchocerciasis (73.1%), cataract (16.4%), trachoma (4.5%), and glaucoma (2.2%).
CONCLUSION---Around 95.5% of all blindness could potentially have been prevented or treated. Ivermectin mass distribution is hoped to prevent 50% of all forms of visual loss in the future.

© 1997 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
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