the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment To determine (VI) in Yazd, Iran.

This population-based, cross-sectional study was performed on adults aged 40–80 years, residing in Yazd district, in 2010–2011. Eligible samples were selected using cluster random sampling method. Each participant underwent an interview and complete ophthalmologic examinations. Blindness and VI were defi ned as best-corrected visual acuity (VA) <3/60 (20/400) and < 6/18 (20/60) in the better eye, respectively.

Of 2320 eligible individuals, 2098 (response rate, 90.4%) participated in the study, of whom, 2023 people completed VA and all other ophthalmological tests. The standardized prevalence of blindness and VI were 0.7% (95% confi dence interval [CI], 0.3–1.0) and 4.4% (95% CI, 3.3–5.4), respectively that were increased signifi cantly by each decade of age (odd ratio [OR] =3.2, 95% CI: 1.9–5.2 and OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 2.3–4.2, respectively) and sex (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.1–12.3 and OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2–2.5, respectively). The proportion of avoidable causes of blindness and VI were 92.9% (95% CI: 80.0–100.0) and 76.6% (95% CI: 69.2–85.0), respectively. The major causes of blindness were diabetic retinopathy (50.0%), glaucoma (21.4%) and cataract (14.3%) whereas the main causes of VI were cataract (41.5%), diabetic retinopathy (17.0%) and age-related macular degeneration (13.8%).

Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataract were the leading causes of blindness and VI in Yazd which all are avoidable. Planning for prevention of blindness is highly recommended to decrease the proportion of avoidable blindness in this setting.