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ABSTRACT
Purpose: Visual impairment is responsible for medical, mental, and socio-economic problems. Several studies have investigated the prevalence of blindness and low vision in different parts of Iran. This study aims to estimate the pooled results of these studies to estimate the total prevalence of this problem in Iran.
Methods: National and international databases were searched using specific keywords. The selected primary studies were quality assessed using STROBE checklist. According to the results of the heterogeneity tests (Cochrane and I-squared indices), fixed- or random-effect models were applied to estimate the pooled results. The factors responsible for the heterogeneity were investigated using meta-regression models. The point and pooled estimates were presented by forest plots, and the presence of publication bias was assessed based on Egger test.
Results: Considering the results of 10 eligible studies showed that the prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of blindness among men, women, urban, and rural population as well as total population was 0.96% (0.60–1.31), 1.00% (0.70–1.31), 0.81% (0.19–1.44), 0.89% (0.45–1.32), and 1.02% (0.71–1.34), respectively. Prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of low vision among men, women, urban, and rural populations and also total populations was estimated at 2.19% (1.60–2.79), 2.60% (2.08–3.12), 2.81% (1.26–4.36), 3.67% (2.17–5.17), and 2.85% (2.12–3.58), respectively.
Conclusion: Our meta-analyses showed that more than 3% of Iranian people are suffering from visual problems. In addition, we found that prevalence of blindness and low vision among Iranian women was more common than that of Iranian men and also was higher in rural areas than urban areas.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.
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Funding
Notes on contributors
Mahmood Moosazadeh
MM and MA carried out the design, performing the literature searches of the study and screening of primary studies by titles and abstract, data analysis, data interpretation, and writing manuscript. SB and SSS participated in performing the literature searches of the study and screening of primary studies by titles and abstract. EA participated in providing of drafted and writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.