to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in underserved Iranian villages and to identify the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness

Multistage cluster sampling was used to select the participants who were then invited to undergo complete examinations. Optometric examinations including uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, and manifest and subjective refraction were performed for all individuals. Ophthalmic examinations included slit lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy. Visual impairment was determined according to the definitions of the WHO and presenting vision

Of 3851 selected individuals, 3314 (86.5%) participated in the study. After using the exclusion criteria, the present report was prepared based on the data of 3095 participants. The mean age of the participants was 37.6±20.7 years (3-93 years). The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness was 6.43% (3.71-9.14) and 1.18% (0.56-1.79), respectively. The prevalence of visual impairment varied from 0.75 in participants aged less than 5 years to 38.36% in individuals above the age of 70 years. Uncorrected refractive errors and cataract were the first and second leading causes of visual impairment; moreover, cataract and refractive errors were responsible for 35.90% and 20.51% of the cases of blindness, respectively

The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness was markedly high in this study. Lack of access to health services was the main reason for the high prevalence of visual impairment in this study. Cataract and refractive errors are responsible for 80% of visual impairments which can be due to poverty in underserved villages