Causes of visual impairment and blindness among Yemenis with diabetes: a hospital-based study

We assessed the causes of visual impairment and blindness in 694 diabetic patients attending our eye centre in Sana’a, Yemen from 2001 to 2005 by review of their medical records. The mean age of the patients was 53.9 (SD 11.52) years, range 13–95 years, and 382 (55%) were males. According to the World Health Organization definitions, 273 (39.3%) patients had visual impairment and 109 (15.7%) were blind. Cataract, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic maculopathy were the main causes of visual impairment and blindness. Patients with PDR and maculopathy were significantly more likely to have visual impairment compared to patients without retinopathy (RR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.74–2.28 and RR = 1.84, (95% CI: 1.60–2.13 respectively) and be blind (RR = 4.69, 95% CI: 3.70–5.95 and RR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.92–3.34 respectively). Diabetic retinopathy is a public health problem in Yemen and national screening and educational programmes are highly needed to reduce the risk of visual impairment and blindness among diabetics.