advertisement
Abstract #5970 Published in IGR 2-2
Causes of blindness in Israel
Hod Y; Corcia Y; Yassur Y; Geyer OHarefuah 2000; 138: 276-278
Of the world population, 38 million are blind and another 110 million visually impaired. Even in the developed countries there are 3.5 million who are blind. This study of blindness in Israel is based on the National Blind Registry. At the end of 1998, 15,937 were registered as blind, 0.3% of the total population; 776 (5%) of these were 18 years old or younger; 6426 (40%) 18-65 years old; and 8735 (55%) 65 years or older. The leading causes of blindness in Israel are glaucoma (2074, 13%), macular degeneration (1954, 12%) and diabetes mellitus (1680, 11%). Since glaucoma and diabetes, and to a lesser extent glaucoma, respond to treatment, blindness could have been avoided in most cases. National screening programs for early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases would reduce prevalence of the newly blind. LA: Hebrew
Dr. Y. Hod, Department of Ophthalmology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
Classification:
1.5 Glaucomas as cause of blindness (Part of: 1 General aspects)
