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The prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East region.

Methods

In this meta-analysis, a structured strategy was applied to search databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, databases as well as the reference lists of the selected articles to identify cross-sectional studies assessing the prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East region until September 2019. The outcome measure was the prevalence of refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, in two age groups of ≤ 15 years and > 15 years. The study results were combined using a random effects model at a confidence level of 95%.

Results

The prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism was 4% (95% CI 4, 5), 8% (95% CI 6, 10), and 15% (95% CI 10, 19) in people less than or equal to 15 years and 30% (95% CI 25, 34), 21% (95% CI 15, 28), and 24% (95% CI 16, 31) in subjects over 15 years, respectively. The prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism was 3.5%, 12.4%, and 9.0% in male and 4.2%, 13.1%, and 9.9% in female subjects aged ≤ 15 years, respectively. In subjects aged > 15 years, the prevalence was 31.7%, 14.5%, and 31.5% in males and 31.9%, 11.2%, and 31% in females, respectively.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hyperopia is relatively high in Middle Eastern children, while the prevalence of myopia is higher in adults in this region. It seems that astigmatism is not a serious refractive problem in this region compared to the rest of the world.

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Funding

This project was supported by Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran

    Fahimeh Khoshhal

  2. Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran

    Hassan Hashemi

  3. Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Elham Hooshmand

  4. Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Saatchi

  5. Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Abbasali Yekta

  6. Eye Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim

  7. Refractive Errors Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hadi Ostadimoghaddam

  8. Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mehdi Khabazkhoob

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  1. Fahimeh Khoshhal
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  2. Hassan Hashemi
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Correspondence to Hassan Hashemi.

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Khoshhal, F., Hashemi, H., Hooshmand, E. et al. The prevalence of refractive errors in the Middle East: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Ophthalmol 40, 1571–1586 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01316-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01316-5

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