causes of blindness and severe visual impairment in children in schools for the blind in east azerbaijan state

purpose : to determine the anatomical site and underlying causes of blindness and severe visual impairment (bl/svi), in schools for the blind in east azerbaijan state with determining potentially preventable and treatable causes. methods : between october 2003 and november 2004 a total of 124 students attending three schools for the blind in east azerbaijan state were examined clinically and data reported using the who/pbl childhood blindness assessment form. results : most of the students (91.9%) were blind. the major causes of bl/svi in our study were: retinal dystrophy (mainly early onset retinitis pigmentosa) in 34.7% of participents cataract and aphakia in l4.5% corneal scar/haze in 15.4% and microphthalmus in 13.7%. the retina was the major anatomical site of visual loss (41.1%) followed by the whole globe (23.4%), lens (14.5%), cornea (15.3%) and optic nerve (5.6%). conclusion : a relatively high proportion of childhood blindness in east azerbaijan state has avoidable causes. most cases of corneal scars and phthisis can be prevented, and cataract is potentially treatable condition.   iranian journal of ophthalmology 200820(4):24-29