RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prevalence and causes of vision loss in North Africa and Middle East in 2015: magnitude, temporal trends and projections JF British Journal of Ophthalmology JO Br J Ophthalmol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 863 OP 870 DO 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312068 VO 103 IS 7 A1 Kahloun, Rim A1 Khairallah, Moncef A1 Resnikoff, Serge A1 Cicinelli, Maria Vittoria A1 Flaxman, Seth R A1 Das, Aditi A1 Jonas, Jost B A1 Keeffe, Jill E A1 Kempen, John H A1 Leasher, Janet A1 Limburg, Hans A1 Naidoo, Kovin A1 Pesudovs, Konrad A1 Silvester, Alexander J A1 Tahhan, Nina A1 Taylor, Hugh R A1 Wong, Tien Yin A1 Bourne, Rupert R A A1 YR 2019 UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/103/7/863.abstract AB Background To assess the prevalence and causes of vision impairment in North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) from 1990 to 2015 and to forecast projections for 2020.Methods Based on a systematic review of medical literature, the prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity (PVA) <3/60 in the better eye), moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; PVA <6/18 but ≥3/60) and mild vision impairment (PVA <6/12 but ≥6/18) was estimated for 2015 and 2020.Results The age-standardised prevalence of blindness and MSVI for all ages and genders decreased from 1990 to 2015, from 1.72 (0.53–3.13) to 0.95% (0.32%–1.71%), and from 6.66 (3.09–10.69) to 4.62% (2.21%–7.33%), respectively, with slightly higher figures for women than men. Cataract was the most common cause of blindness in 1990 and 2015, followed by uncorrected refractive error. Uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of MSVI in the NAME region in 1990 and 2015, followed by cataract. A reduction in the proportions of blindness and MSVI due to cataract, corneal opacity and trachoma is predicted by 2020. Conversely, an increase in the proportion of blindness attributable to uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy is expected.Conclusions In 2015 cataract and uncorrected refractive error were the major causes of vision loss in the NAME region. Proportions of vision impairment from cataract, corneal opacity and trachoma are expected to decrease by 2020, and those from uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are predicted to increase by 2020.