CCBRT Disability Hospital, PO Box 23310, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2010 Feb;94(2):146-9. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2009.160713. Epub 2009 Aug 9.
To investigate the prevalence and causes of optic neuropathy, reported as epidemic in 1997, among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
First year students (n = 10,892) from 63 secondary schools located within 30 km from the base hospital were interviewed and had a visual acuity (VA) screening test. Students failing the 6/12-line in either eye were defined as having "poor eyesight" and referred to the base hospital where an optometrist re-tested VA and refracted them. An ophthalmologist examined students with VA of 6/12 or worse in either eye and visual impairment was defined as VA of worse than 6/12 with best correction. Associations between optic neuropathy, socioeconomic status and educational results were investigated.
Students' ages ranged from 12 to 22 (mean 15.2) years; 50.6% were male. The prevalence of optic neuropathy was 0.3 (SD 0.051)%. The condition affected older students and was associated with the family having fewer economic possessions (car, computer, television). Optic neuropathy accounted for 19/33 (58%) of bilateral visual impairment cases. No effect of the disease on educational performance was identified.
Optic neuropathy remains a significant problem in this population and can now be termed endemic rather than epidemic. Further research into its causes is required.
调查坦桑尼亚达累斯萨拉姆市中学学生视神经病变的流行率和病因，该疾病曾于 1997 年被报道为流行疾病。
从位于基地医院 30 公里范围内的 63 所中学中招募了一年级学生（n=10892），对他们进行了访谈并进行了视力（VA）筛查测试。在任何一只眼睛中视力低于 6/12 线的学生被定义为“视力不佳”，并被转介到基地医院，由验光师重新测试 VA 并进行矫正。眼科医生检查了任何一只眼睛视力低于 6/12 的学生，将视力低于最佳矫正后 6/12 的情况定义为视力障碍。研究了视神经病变、社会经济地位和教育成绩之间的关系。
学生年龄在 12 至 22 岁之间（平均年龄为 15.2 岁）；50.6%为男性。视神经病变的患病率为 0.3（SD 0.051）%。该疾病影响年龄较大的学生，与家庭拥有较少的经济财产（汽车、电脑、电视）有关。视神经病变占 33 例双侧视力障碍病例中的 19 例（58%）。该疾病对教育表现没有影响。
视神经病变在该人群中仍然是一个严重的问题，可以称之为地方性疾病，而不是流行疾病。需要进一步研究其病因。
