News and notices. April 02, 2014

Posterior segment eye diseases are major contributor to blindness in sub-Saharan Africa

A literature review has found that posterior segment eye diseases (PSED) are usually the second leading cause of blindness after cataract in sub-Saharan African (SSA).

The review was carried out by researchers at the International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and published in Tropical Medicine & International Health. The authors examined published population-based data from SSA and other relevant populations on the leading PSED, specifically glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, as causes of blindness and visual impairment in adults. Data were extracted from population-based studies conducted in SSA and elsewhere where relevant.

View the abstract in the PubMed database.