[Causes of blindness in the year 2000 in Israel]

This study of the causes of blindness in Israel in the year 2000 is based on the National Registry of the Blind in Israel. Patients are considered blind if they have a visual acuity of 1/60 or worse, in their better eye, or visual field loss of > 20 degree, in their better eye. At the end of 1998, 15,937 were registered as blind, 2.7/1000 of the total population and in the year 2000 2.9/1000. The leading causes of blindness in Israel in 1998 were glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes mellitus. In the year 2000 the leading causes of blindness are: macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes mellitus. Macular degeneration is found to be more prevalent in the year 2000 because of high life expectancy of the total population. Glaucoma is found to be less prevalent then in 1998. This can be attributed to early diagnosis and better treatment of the disease. Early detection of glaucoma and good response to treatment is essential for prevention of blindness in such cases.