A clinic based survey of blindness and eye disease in Cambodia

Abstract

Aims. To survey the spectrum of eye disease presenting to rural eye clinics in Cambodia. Methods. A total of 1381 patients seen consecutively at 13 eye clinics were examined and the findings recorded. Results. 231 (16.7%) were bilaterally blind (visual acuity < 3/60 in both eyes); 263 (19%) were unilaterally blind, and 169 (12%) had low vision (visual acuity < 6/18 in the better eye). Cataract was the commonest cause of visual loss in all three categories and was responsible respectively in 69%, 40%, and 55% of each group. Trachoma was diagnosed in 13% of patients. Thirty three of them needed lid surgery for trichiasis. Conclusion. With the difficult practical and political situation in Cambodia there seems little prospect of making substantial inroads into the backlog of avoidable blindness in the near future.