The prevalence and causes of visual impairment in young Turkish men. | [Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences • 2015]

Author(s):

1. Fatih Cakir Gundogan: Department of Ophthalmology, GATA Military Medical School, Ankara, Turkey

2. Necmettin Kocak: Health Care Department, Ankara, Turkey

3. Ramazan Akyildiz: Health Care Department, Ankara, Turkey

4. Umit Yolcu: Sarikamis Military Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Siirt, Turkey

5. Abdullah Ilhan: Erzurum Military Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Erzurum, Turkey

6. Ibrahim Aydin: Sarikamis Military Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Turkey

7. Selim Kilic: Department of Public Health, GATA Military Medical School, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract:

Objective: To explore the causes and prevalence of visual impairment in young Turkish men. Methods: The health examination data of the candidates that are saved in National Defense Ministry of Turkey was used. The data of the candidates examined between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011 were evaluated. The total number of the candidates was 1777500. The candidates requiring advanced examination are referred to secondary and tertiary examination hospitals. Results: Fourteen thousand eight hundred sixty two(14862) out of 1777500 candidates were declared unfit for compulsory military service because of ophthalmic causes. The prevalence of ophthalmologic diseases causing unfitness for military service was found 0. 746% for 2009, 0. 871% for 2010 and 0. 889% for 2011. These included high refractive errors which was the most frequent pathology causing unfitness (40. 1%). Nonsurgical retina, vitreous and optic nerve diseases were the most frequent cause of visual impairment (0. 212%). Corneal and lens pathologies were the second most frequent cause of blindness (0. 101%). Conclusions: The data bank in National Defense Ministry analyzed in this study is not directly intended to explore the causes and prevalence of visual impairment in Turkey. However this study gives considerable knowledge about the causes and prevalence of visual impairment in Turkey.

Page(s): 837-842

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, Volume: 31, Issue: 4, Year: 2015

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