文档介绍：? The aim of our study was to determine the causes of childhood blindness in Qatar ? One previous survey of blindness in adults and children of Qatar was carried out in 1977 1 ? The State of Qatar is an Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. ? With the discovery of oil in the 1940s came large changes in the socioeconomic wealth and population growth. ? It is estimated that only about 30% of the country ’ s population (>), are citizens. ? All Qataris receive free medical care ? Qatar ’ s only blind school ? Opened in September of 1998 ? Provides a free education for citizens and residents ? Students with blindness, low vision, and special needs ? A visiting Ophthalmologist examined all children attending the Al-Noor Institute ? The classification method used was that of the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) study 3 (1) entirely unavoidable/untreatable, (2) entirely preventable, or (3) potentially treatable ? es of the consultation were grouped into 7 categories, including mendations for (1) surgery, (2) further investigations, (3) low vision assessment, (4) refraction / contact lens / glasses, (5) mainstream school, (6) blind school(7) blind school with special needs 211 children examined Causes of Childhood blindness in the Al-Noor Institute 168 43 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 ic Acquired Number of Children ic causes Total (%) Acquired causes Total (%) Microphthalmia Leber ’ a Amaurosis Retinitis Pigmentosa High Myopia Retinal detachment Congenital Cataracts Homocystinuria Congenital a Albinism Congenital nystagmus Cone Dystrophy Squint/Refractive/Ambylopi a Congenital Ptosis Corneal Opacities (ic) Neurological (ic) 18 (11) 17 (10) 5 (3) 13 (8) 8 (5) 14 (8) 41 (19) 17 (10) 4 (2) 5 (3) 2 (1) 10 (6) 1 (1) 17 (10) 7 (4) Corneal Opacities (Acquired) Neurological (Acquired) Retinopathy of Prematurity Squint / Ambylopia Congenital Ptosis Macular Coloboma 5 (12) 13 (30) 13 (30) 10 (23) 1 (2) 1 (2) Tot