Causes of blindness among students in blind school institutions in a developing country MOSES

Genetic factors are the main causes of childhood blindness in developed countries (Sorsby, I966; Fraser and Friedmann, I967; Merin, Lapithis, Horowitz, and Michaelson, I972; Goldstein, 1972). In developing countries infections as causes of blindness in childhood outnumber the genetic factors (Rodger, I959; Phillips, I96I; Wilson, I962; Olurin, 1970). Malnutrition in these countries resulting in xerophthalmia and keratomalacia is also an important cause of blindness (Awdry, Cobb, and Adams, I967; WHO Chronicle, 1973). Since the early I960S the Eye Departnent of the Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital in Jerusalem has been sponsoring the ophthalmological care in many African countries (Michaelson, 1972). In Malawi sponsoring started in I965. After io years a study was undertaken in order to evaluate the causes of blindness in the past, the current causes of blindness, and to assess the expectations for the future. We report here a retrospective study on the causes of blindness as presented by students in blind school institutions all over Malawi.