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International Ophthalmology
Published in: International Ophthalmology 6/2020

01-06-2020 | Refractive Errors | Review

The prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Fahimeh Khoshhal, Hassan Hashemi, Elham Hooshmand, Mohammad Saatchi, Abbasali Yekta, Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim, Hadi Ostadimoghaddam, Mehdi Khabazkhoob

Published in: International Ophthalmology | Issue 6/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East region.

Methods

In this meta-analysis, a structured strategy was applied to search databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, databases as well as the reference lists of the selected articles to identify cross-sectional studies assessing the prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East region until September 2019. The outcome measure was the prevalence of refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, in two age groups of ≤ 15 years and > 15 years. The study results were combined using a random effects model at a confidence level of 95%.

Results

The prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism was 4% (95% CI 4, 5), 8% (95% CI 6, 10), and 15% (95% CI 10, 19) in people less than or equal to 15 years and 30% (95% CI 25, 34), 21% (95% CI 15, 28), and 24% (95% CI 16, 31) in subjects over 15 years, respectively. The prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism was 3.5%, 12.4%, and 9.0% in male and 4.2%, 13.1%, and 9.9% in female subjects aged ≤ 15 years, respectively. In subjects aged > 15 years, the prevalence was 31.7%, 14.5%, and 31.5% in males and 31.9%, 11.2%, and 31% in females, respectively.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hyperopia is relatively high in Middle Eastern children, while the prevalence of myopia is higher in adults in this region. It seems that astigmatism is not a serious refractive problem in this region compared to the rest of the world.
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Metadata
Title
The prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Fahimeh Khoshhal
Hassan Hashemi
Elham Hooshmand
Mohammad Saatchi
Abbasali Yekta
Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim
Hadi Ostadimoghaddam
Mehdi Khabazkhoob
Publication date
01-06-2020
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
International Ophthalmology / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 0165-5701
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2630
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01316-5

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