The epidemiology of ophthalmic diseases in patients referring to the ophthalmology clinic of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand (2014 - 2015)

Many causes of blindness or vision impairment are treatable, and their irreversible complications can be prevented by early diagnosis and proper treatment. Thus, the current study aimed at investigating the epidemiology of various eye diseases in patients (i.e.760 cases) referring to the ophthalmic clinic of Vali-e-Asr hospital in Birjand (Dec.22, 2014-Jun 20, 2015).
In this cross-sectional study, all patients referring to the ophthalmic clinic of Vali-e- Asr hospital between Dec.22, 2014 and Jun 20, 2015 (including 760 subjects) were enrolled through census method. The respective demographic form was completed for every patient. The patients were examined by an ophthalmologist, and results were recorded in the check-list form. Finally, the obtained data was fed into SPSS (V: 18), using statistical tests descriptive statistics and logistic regression at the significant level of P≤0.50.
The prevalence of eye diseases including cataract, nerve and retinal disease, trauma, retinopathy and glaucoma were 31.4%, 13.7%, 13.4%, 11.3%, and 6.2%, respectively. A significant relationship was found between age and habitation, cataract and retinal nerve disease, age and glaucoma, location and history of diabetes; and thyroidism and trauma (P According to the results, planning for the prevention of diseases such as thyroidism and diabetes, and advocating a healthy lifestyle can be effective in reducing eye diseases.