Epidemiology of Eye Diseases in Monocular Blind Veterans in 19 Provinces of Iran from 2010 to 2016

Blindness is one of the permanent physical damage that is found frequently in war survivors. In monocular blind veterans, preservation and care of the remaining eye is very important. This study aimed to investigate diseases and disorders of both eyes of monocular blind veterans. A total of 1820 monocular blind veterans from 19 provinces of Iran were surveyed between 2010 and 2016. Demographic data including age, gender, marital status, injury rate, associated injuries, educational level and employment status were collected. After examination of the veterans’ eyes, diseases of the both eyes and eyelid disorders were recorded by an ophthalmologist. Furthermore, treatment plans were provided to each patients. The mean age of 1820 participants was 45.8 ± 7.8 years. About two-thirds (73.6%) of participants had injuries other than blindness. More than half (54.2%) of the blind eyes had diseases, the most frequent of which was phthisis bulbi (11.0%). A total of 405 (22.2%) of the non-blind eyes were healthy. The frequencies of diseases in non-blind eyes were as follows: refractive error, 620 (34.1%); presbyopia, 533 (29.3%); cataract, 62 (3.4%); glaucoma, 32 (1.7%); and others, 168 (9.3%). Except for the glaucoma, these diseases were associated with age (P<0.05). Entropion (13.1%) and incomplete eyelid closure (9.8%) were the most common eyelid disorders. The majority of the blind (93.7%) and non-blind (94.3%) eyes needed follow-up in the next year of the study. In monocular blind veterans, the most frequent diseases and disorders of the blind eyes, non-blind eyes and eyelids were phthisis bulbi, refractive errors and entropion, respectively. Regarding the importance of preserving the vision of non-blind eyes and the frequency of diseases in both eyes of these veterans, periodic examination is necessary.