Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41146050›Full record

SynthesisBMC ophthalmology2025

Prevalence, burden, and determinants of visual impairment and blindness among adults in Saudi Arabia: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abdulmajeed Al Khathami, Mohamed Baklola, Naji Al-Bawah, Dalal Alghamdi, Nada Mana Shar, Hanin Alghamdi, Saja Alghamdi, Nawal Alanazi, Meshari Alalyani, Mayas Hafez and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC ophthalmology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Abdulmajeed Al KhathamiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed BaklolaFaculty of Medicine, Mansour university, Mansoura, Egypt. Mohamedbaklola2000@gmail.com.
Naji Al-BawahFaculty of Medicine, sana'a university, sana'a, Yemen. Najialbawah@gmail.com.
Dalal AlghamdiFaculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
Nada Mana SharCollege of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Hanin AlghamdiFaculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
Saja AlghamdiFaculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
Nawal AlanaziNorthern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
Meshari AlalyaniCollege of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mayas HafezQatif Central Hospital, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Raydaa AlshomraniCollege of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia.
Khaled GhaithDepartment of Ophthalmology, King Fahad Hospital, Al Baha Health Cluster, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVisual impairment (VI) and blindness represent major public health challenges with significant social and economic consequences. In Saudi Arabia, multiple studies have investigated prevalence and causes, but findings vary due to differences in study design, populations, and definitions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence, causes, and determinants of VI and blindness among adults in Saudi Arabia.

methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and regional databases was conducted up to July 2025. Studies were eligible if they included adults (≥ 18 years) residing in Saudi Arabia and reported the prevalence, causes, or risk factors of visual impairment (VI) and/or blindness. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled prevalence estimates and all statistical analyses were conducted in R (version 4.4.3) using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to assess heterogeneity by region, study period, and study setting.

resultsNine studies comprising 29,707 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of VI among adults was 16.8% (95% CI: 11.4-23.9), while the prevalence of blindness was 1.7% (95% CI: 1.0-2.8). When stratified by study setting, the prevalence of VI was higher in clinic-based studies (22.1%) compared with population-based surveys (10.8%). Uncorrected refractive error was the leading cause of VI, while cataract was the primary cause of blindness. Subgroup analyses revealed significantly higher VI prevalence in females (20.7% vs. 12.5% in males). Meta-regression confirmed that study setting and publication year were significant sources of heterogeneity, with prevalence estimates increasing over time.

conclusionVisual impairment and blindness represent a significant public health burden in Saudi Arabia. The high prevalence is driven primarily by preventable or treatable causes, mainly uncorrected refractive error and cataract. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health strategies, including enhanced screening and improved access to care.

Indexed as

BlindnessPersons with Visual DisabilitiesVision, LowAdultCost of IllnessHumansPrevalenceRisk FactorsSaudi ArabiaVisual AcuityBlindnessCataractPrevalenceSaudi ArabiaVisual impairment

Identifiers

PMID41146050
PMCPMC12560472

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.