Doha, October 30 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced the results of 'National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey' conducted, which was carried out in cooperation with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and targeted individuals aged 50 or older in Qatar.

According to the survey, an impressive 91.9 percent of the population in this age group maintain normal vision, while 8.1 percent of participants exhibited vision impairment. Among them, 0.2 percent suffered from severe visual impairment, and percentage of individuals diagnosed with blindness were only 0.3 percent.

Furthermore, the survey data revealed that the diabetic retinopathy was the most common cause of blindness affecting 33 percent of blind patients. Other causes are cataract (20 percent), glaucoma (13 percent), retinal diseases (13 percent), and uncorrected refracted vision errors (6.7 percent).

During the awards and closing ceremony the Director of the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Program at MoPH Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani commended how the survey outcomes have reflected the recent advances in the field of eye health care in the State of Qatar. He emphasized that, the prevalence of blindness has decreased by four times, compared to the previous survey carried out in 2009, additionally, the incidence of severe visual impairment decreased by eight times, and the effective surgical coverage for cataract surgery (performed at HMC hospitals) improved from 63 percent to over 95 percent.

Dr. Mohammed Al Thani announced that the survey outcomes would guide the decision-makers at MoPH and partners in implementing an eye action plan aiming to further enhance eye health services in Qatar and strengthen the protocols for early detection of diabetic retinopathy aiming to prevent complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and vision loss.

On the other hand, Managing Director of Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) Dr. Mariam Abdulmalik affirmed the significance of survey recommendations for the continuous development of eye health services, and the implementation of programs and plans based on the findings of this survey, especially since the survey data demonstrates that more than 88 percent of the causes of visual impairment are either treatable or avoidable, which requires the development of eye health plans effectively contribute to increased public awareness.

Dr. Abdulmalik added: "Ophthalmology services in Qatar are provided according to the highest standards and protocols that ensure the provision of appropriate medical care both in primary health care centers and in secondary care depending on medical conditions and cases." During her speech, Dr. Samya Ahmad Al Abdullah, a Senior Consultant of Family Medicine and Executive Director of Operations at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) explained that the survey's main purpose was to gather data on the prevalence and causes of visual impairment. Of note, as the survey has a great priority, the eye health professionals in ten Primary healthcare centers were delegated to conduct the data collection and participants examination.

Dr. Samya Al Abdullah urged patients suffering from diabetes diabetic or glaucoma to undergo regular eye examinations, particularly since survey data showed that 40 percent of survey participants are diabetics, and 38 percent of them had not been examined by an ophthalmologist in the past two years putting them at a higher risk of diabetic retinopathy and associated complications.

Dr. Shadi Al Ashwal, ophthalmologist at the MoPH and the principal investigator of the survey, highlighted that the initial sample has included 5,060 participants from all regions of the country with a response rate exceeding 80 percent.

Dr. Al Ashwal acknowledged the engagement of survey participants who represent the first pillar for the success of this national project. The enrolled participates have a positive engagement that reflect the level of awareness and significantly contributed to the early detection and screening of diabetic retinal diseases, glaucoma, and cataract among those been examined. (QNA)