Low prevalence of trachoma in the south western part of Saudi Arabia, results of a population based study.

Trachoma remains one of the world's leading causes of blindness. A population based survey of the prevalence of trachoma was conducted in the South Western part of Saudi Arabia in the period of between July and November 1991. Overall, 7126 people were examined. Of these, 19 (0.26%) persons had active trachoma and 35 (0.5%) people had inactive trachoma. Sequelae of trachoma included conjunctival scarring, trichiasis and corneal scarring. Among 635 subjects with visual impairment, 6 (0.95%) patients had visual impairment due to trachoma. Trachoma does not seem to be a major ophthalmic problem in this area and proper management of the complications of trachoma will exclude it from the causes of blindness and visual impairment in this part of Saudi Arabia.