ArticleClinical optometry2026
Building the Optometry Workforce in Somalia: A Strategic Approach to Preventing Avoidable Blindness and Expanding Access to Vision Care.
Article in Clinical optometry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Purpose: Somalia faces a substantial burden of avoidable eye disease, while access to primary eye-care services remains uneven and optometry training capacity is limited. This rapid communication reports the pattern of ocular conditions and service needs identified in a large service-based eye-care dataset from Mogadishu and outlines a practical implementation framework for strengthening the optometry workforce in Somalia. Methods: This study was conducted as a retrospective review of routine service data from 2,890 patients evaluated during community- and hospital-based eye-care programs at Dr. Sumait Hospital, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, Somalia, between January and October 2025. Patients underwent routine eye assessments according to program protocols, including torchlight examination, visual-acuity testing, refraction assessment, intraocular-pressure measurement, and dilated fundus examination where indicated. Diagnoses and treatment/referral decisions were recorded and analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. Results: Among 2,890 examined patients, the most common ocular condition was conjunctivitis (n=1,231; 42.6%), followed by cataract (n=644; 22.3%) and refractive error plus computer vision syndrome (n=410; 14.2%). Other ocular conditions accounted for the remaining cases (n=605; 20.9%). Comorbid conditions included glaucoma with IOP >21 mmHg (n=176; 6.1%), diabetes (n=116; 4.0%), hypertension (n=98; 3.4%), and diabetic retinopathy (n=14; 0.5%). Treatment modalities consisted of medical therapy (n=1,789; 61.9%), prescription spectacles (n=595; 20.6%), surgical procedures (n=457; 15.8%), and referrals (n=64; 2.2%). Conclusion: The findings indicate a high burden of preventable and treatable eye conditions and support the need for a structured optometry workforce in Somalia. We propose a three-component implementation framework: (1) workforce training (optometry and optical-technician education), (2) decentralized service delivery with referral pathways, and (3) sustainable multi-sector partnerships to expand access to vision care and strengthen long-term eye-care service delivery.
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