Posterior segment eye diseases: prevalence, pattern, and attribution to visual impairment among adult saudi population

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and pattern of posterior segment eye disease (PSEDs) and their attribution to visual impairment (VI) in Saudi adults of Arar city, Saudi Arabia. Material and Method: Prevalence and pattern of PSEDs were studied through ophthalmological evaluation including B-scan ultrasonography on 956 participants from Arar city. Results: The prevalence of PSEDs in the current study was 10.7%. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was the commonest pathology found in 64 (6.7%) participants. Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), optic atrophy (OA) and retinal detachment (RD) were found in 19 (2%), 16 (1.7%) and 10 (1%) cases respectively. Glaucoma was the commonest cause of OA found in 50% of cases. DR and high myopia were found to be the underlying cause in about 50% of RD cases. Vitreous hemorrhages in association with DR, ARMD, and RD were found in 39 (4%) cases. The current study revealed that DR was the commonest PSED diagnosed in cases of VI. Discussion: These data highlight the magnitude of the PSEDs as the causes of visual impairment and encourage proper healthcare planning to reduce the burden of the posterior segment eye diseases.