Abstract:
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of people with
visual impairment worldwide was in excess of 284 million, of whom about 39 million were
blind. While approximately 10 million Africans are blind; there are also 1.2 million blind people
in Ethiopia. . In the least developed world, blindness is associated with considerable disability
and excess mortality; resulting in huge economic and social consequences.
Objective is to determine prevalence and profile of blindness in Jimma university Department
of Ophthalmology, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in patients attending Jimma
hospital department of ophthalmology over a period of 6 months, from July 2013 to January
2014.
A questionnaire was used for data collection. The data was cleaned, edited and entered into the
SPSS window for analysis. Data was analyzed, using version 20 SPSS and statistical test done
RESULT: A total of 7,878 patients were seen during study period. Of these 206 were blind
proportion of blindness was 206/7,878(2.61%). Out of 206 patients, 167(81.1%) were
unilaterally blind while 39(18.9%) were bilaterally blind. The Out of 206 patients, 101(49%)
were greater than or equal 55 years of age. 140 (68) were males while 66(32) were females,
giving a male to female ratio 2.2:1 The most common cause of blindness was cataract followed
by glaucoma,. From cataract cases age related cataract was the commonest 77.7% while among
glaucoma POAG consisted (42.6%). Majority of retinal causes of blindness is retinal detachment
(62.5%). Age related macular degeneration comprises 12.5% of retinal cases. Post traumatic
corneal opacity consisted majority of the cases (59.1%). Post inflammatory was 31.8%.
Conclusion: Cataract is the most common cause of blindness while glaucoma is the second most
common causes of blindness. Corneal eye diseases are the 3rd. Blindness is more common in old
ages & in illiterate people. Blindness more prevalent among males blindness than female.
Unilateral blindness more common than bilateral blindness.
Health education should be given to community to come early to health facility. Extension of
health facility should be to provide eye care service in closer area for those who in need of
service. Outreach service should be strengthened to reach to these people where closer to them.
