Childhood blindness in Uzbekistan

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Updated: Oct 20, 2026

An Automated Method for Assessing Visual Acuity in Infants and Toddlers Using an Eye-Tracking System
05:10

An Automated Method for Assessing Visual Acuity in Infants and Toddlers Using an Eye-Tracking System

Published on: March 17, 2023

N K Rogers1, C E Gilbert, A Foster

  • 1International Center for Eye Health, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK. nkrogers@compuserve.com

Eye (London, England)
|July 9, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Childhood blindness in Uzbekistan is primarily caused by cataract, retinal dystrophies, and microphthalmos. Addressing unoperated cataracts is crucial for preventing vision loss in children.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood blindness presents a significant public health challenge globally.
  • Understanding the specific causes of vision impairment in children is essential for targeted interventions.
  • Uzbekistan's demographic and healthcare landscape necessitates a focused study on pediatric visual health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the underlying causes of childhood blindness in Uzbekistan.
  • To evaluate the current and future requirements for pediatric ophthalmic services in the country.
  • To inform strategies for the prevention and management of visual impairment in Uzbek children.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive eye examination was conducted on 671 children across seven schools for the visually impaired in Uzbekistan.
  • The World Health Organization/Prevention Of Blindness (WHO/PBL) childhood blindness proforma was utilized for data collection.
  • Study sites were strategically selected to ensure representative coverage of Uzbekistan's population centers.

Main Results:

  • A substantial majority of examined children (75.4%) presented with blindness or severe visual impairment (visual acuity <6/60).
  • The leading causes of blindness were cataract-related (35%), retinal dystrophies (24%), and microphthalmos (23%).
  • Glaucoma was identified as a cause in approximately 5% of avoidable blindness cases.

Conclusions:

  • Unoperated cataracts represent the most common preventable cause of childhood blindness in Uzbekistan.
  • The high prevalence of retinal dystrophies may be linked to consanguineous marriage practices.
  • Microphthalmos is a significant finding requiring further investigation and comparison with international data.
Abstract

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