Aldakhil Sulaiman
Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Aug 7;13(15):1927. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13151927.
Visual impairment (VI) continues to be a significant global public health concern, especially in underserved rural communities. : This study aims to assess the prevalence of VI and refractive errors, as well as to identify the causes and risk factors associated with VI in Duhknah, a rural area in Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia. : This cross-sectional study, conducted in May 2024, included 929 participants aged 6-90 years from Duhknah, a rural area in Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia. Refractive errors (REs) were measured using a non-cycloplegic autorefractometer. Anterior and posterior eye examinations were performed using slit lamp biomicroscopy, direct ophthalmoscopy, and 90 D fundus biomicroscopy. VI was classified based on the International Classification of Diseases 11th revision (ICD-11), 2018. : The findings revealed that 671 (72.2%) participants had never undergone an eye examination. The overall prevalence of presenting VI was 370 (39.8%), comprising 21.6% with mild VI, 11.0% moderate, 4.1% severe, and 3.1% classified as blind. The prevalence of hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism was 20.6%, 36.9%, and 13.2%, respectively. Uncorrected REs were the most common cause of VI (81.4%), followed by amblyopia (13.5%) and cataracts (3.2%). Regression analysis showed that women had 1.58 times higher odds of VI ( = 0.001). Participants with eye examinations for one year or more had 3.64 times higher odds ( < 0.001). Additionally, the risk of VI was significantly lower among older participants (ages 18-90) compared to younger ones (ages 6-17), ( < 0.001). : This study found most participants had never had an eye exam, and VI was highly prevalent in the rural community. These findings underscore the need to strengthen primary eye care in rural Saudi Arabia. Regular vision screening, particularly for children, and better access to refractive services could significantly reduce VI and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
视力障碍（VI）仍然是一个重大的全球公共卫生问题，尤其是在服务不足的农村社区。本研究旨在评估卡西姆省杜赫纳（沙特阿拉伯一个农村地区）的视力障碍和屈光不正的患病率，以及确定与视力障碍相关的原因和风险因素。这项横断面研究于2024年5月进行，纳入了来自沙特阿拉伯卡西姆省农村地区杜赫纳的929名6至90岁的参与者。使用非散瞳自动验光仪测量屈光不正（REs）。使用裂隙灯生物显微镜检查、直接检眼镜检查和90D眼底生物显微镜检查进行眼前段和眼后段检查。根据《国际疾病分类》第11版（ICD-11，2018年）对视力障碍进行分类。研究结果显示，671名（72.2%）参与者从未接受过眼部检查。视力障碍的总体患病率为370例（39.8%），其中轻度视力障碍占21.6%，中度占11.0%，重度占4.1%，失明占3.1%。远视、近视和散光的患病率分别为20.6%、36.9%和13.2%。未矫正的屈光不正是视力障碍最常见的原因（81.4%），其次是弱视（13.5%）和白内障（3.2%）。回归分析显示，女性患视力障碍的几率高1.58倍（P = 0.001）。接受眼部检查一年或更长时间的参与者患视力障碍的几率高3.64倍（P < 0.001）。此外，与年轻参与者（6至17岁）相比，老年参与者（18至90岁）患视力障碍的风险显著更低（P < 0.001）。本研究发现，大多数参与者从未进行过眼部检查，视力障碍在农村社区非常普遍。这些发现强调了在沙特阿拉伯农村加强初级眼保健的必要性。定期视力筛查，特别是对儿童的筛查，以及更好地获得屈光服务，可以显著降低视力障碍，并支持沙特2030年愿景目标。
