Causes Of Unilateral Blindness

Frequency of Pathologies Causing Unilateral Blindness

Abstract

Aim: To enlist the frequency of diseases that causes unilateral blindness (reversible & irreversible both).

Study Design: Cross Sectional study

Duration and setting of study: This study was done at OPD Ophthalmology, Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) Peshawar, from 1st March, to 30th June, 2019.

Methods: In this study all patients presenting with unilateral blindness to eye outpatient department, Hayatabad Medical Complex were included. Blindness was defined as presenting visual acuity of less than 3/60 in any one eye. After taking consent, the data was collected through Pre-designed questionnaire.

Results: A total 185 participants were included in this study. Male were 57.3% and 42.7% were female. Mean age of participants was 45 years. Cataract was most common cause and was found in 33.5% patients. However, 16.8% were diagnosed with retinal detachment (RD), 9.7% was having corneal opacity and glaucoma was diagnosed in
8.1% patients. Trauma was found in 7.0% of unilateral blindness, followed by diabetic retinopathy (DR) 6.5%, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) 2.7%, phthisis 1.6%, optic neuropathy (1.6%) and age related macular degeneration (ARMD) 1.1%. Other pathologies were 11.4% cases.

Conclusion: The most common cause found in our study was cataract followed by retinal detachment, corneal opacity, glaucoma, trauma, diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, phthisis, optic neuropathy, ARMD in descending order.