{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T05:19:46Z","timestamp":1763356786864,"version":"3.45.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763337600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Vision impairment (VI) is a global health challenge with its impact cutting across ages, gender, and all domains of life. A shift in global demographics due to increasing life expectancy is expected to increase the burden of VI.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study sought to determine the prevalence of VI in the general population among selected public hospitals in Kigali and southern Rwanda.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This retrospective hospital-based study used five public hospitals from Kigali and Southern Rwanda. Patient files from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2023 were sampled, and files with VI according to defined criteria were selected, and data were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Most patients who presented to the hospitals were female (60.7%). The prevalence of VI ranged between 8.1 and 18.2%. VI was more prevalent in females than in males (18.0% vs. 13.7%). Additionally, VI was most prevalent among the elderly (29.1%). The leading causes of VI were diseases of the lens and normal globe diseases. The risk of VI was significantly higher in males (AOR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.16\u20131.34), the elderly (AOR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.40\u20131.76), and those with diseases of the lens (AOR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.88\u20132.51).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The burden of VI in Rwanda is expected to increase due to a growing youthful population. Sustained efforts, including improving human resources and addressing the unmet demands of cataract and refractive error, are critical to avert the impending public health challenge.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2025.1701330","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T05:17:40Z","timestamp":1763356660000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence of vision impairment in Rwanda: a hospital-based study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Benedict","family":"Ayobi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rekha","family":"Hansraj","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nishanee","family":"Rampersad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gerard","family":"Urimubenshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.3390\/TROPICALMED7020034\/S1","article-title":"Prevalence of the burden of diseases causing visual impairment and blindness in South Africa in the period 2010\u20132020: a systematic scoping review and meta-analysis","volume":"7","author":"Xulu-Kasaba","year":"2022","journal-title":"Trop Med Infect Dis"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"gnad169","DOI":"10.1093\/GERONT\/GNAD169","article-title":"Everyday challenges for individuals aging with vision impairment: technology implications","volume":"64","author":"Remillard","year":"2023","journal-title":"Gerontologist"},{"key":"ref3","first-page":"1","article-title":"Refractive errors: magnitude of the need","volume":"13","author":"Taylor","year":"2000","journal-title":"Community Eye Health"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2021.09.010","article-title":"The economic burden of vision loss and blindness in the United States","volume":"129","author":"Rein","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ophthalmology"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3661","DOI":"10.2147\/OPTH.S383600","article-title":"Productivity loss and predictive factors among visually impaired adults in tertiary eye care centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a dual-center cross-sectional study","volume":"16","author":"Anbesse","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e247026","DOI":"10.1001\/JAMANETWORKOPEN.2024.7026","article-title":"Visual impairment and suicide risk: a systematic review and Meta-analysis","volume":"7","author":"Kim","year":"2024","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"ref7","volume-title":"The impact of vision loss","author":"Annalyn","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0317452","DOI":"10.1371\/JOURNAL.PONE.0317452","article-title":"Vision impairment and associated daily activity limitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"20","author":"Rahmati","year":"2025","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2317\u20132317","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(20)30425-3","article-title":"Global prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment in 2020: progress towards the vision 2020 targets and what the future holds","volume":"61","author":"Bourne","year":"2020","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"ref10","year":""},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e864","DOI":"10.1111\/AOS.14391","article-title":"Socioeconomic inequality in the global burden of refraction disorders: results from the global burden of diseases study 2017","volume":"98","author":"Tang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e144","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(20)30489-7","article-title":"Causes of blindness and vision impairment in 2020 and trends over 30 years, and prevalence of avoidable blindness in relation to VISION 2020: the right to sight: an analysis for the global burden of disease study","volume":"9","author":"Steinmetz","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.4102\/JPHIA.V16I1.1273","article-title":"Prevalence and causes of vision impairment in East Africa: a narrative review","volume":"16","author":"Ayobi","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Public Health Afr"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"614","DOI":"10.1136\/BJOPHTHALMOL-2011-300539","article-title":"Global estimates of visual impairment: 2010","volume":"96","author":"Pascolini","year":"2012","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1016\/J.JOCO.2018.08.001","article-title":"Prevalence of refractive errors in Iranian university students in Kazerun","volume":"32","author":"Hashemi","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Curr Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"615","DOI":"10.1001\/ARCHOPHT.122.4.615","article-title":"VISION 2020: the right to sight: a global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness","volume":"122","author":"Pizzarello","year":"2004","journal-title":"Arch Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1080\/09286586.2022.2127784","article-title":"WHO vision 2020: have we done it?","volume":"30","author":"Abdulhussein","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ophthalmic Epidemiol"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.2471\/BLT.14.143149","article-title":"Improving eye care in Rwanda","volume":"93","author":"Binagwaho","year":"2015","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"280","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo-2022-321522","article-title":"Distribution and causes of blindness and severe visual impairment in children at a tertiary referral Centre in Rwanda","volume":"108","author":"El-Khoury","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0193817","DOI":"10.1371\/JOURNAL.PONE.0193817","article-title":"Population need for primary eye care in Rwanda: a national survey","volume":"13","author":"Bright","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e217","DOI":"10.1371\/JOURNAL.PMED.0040217","article-title":"Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Western Rwanda: blindness in a Postconflict setting","volume":"4","author":"Mathenge","year":"2007","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.4102\/AVEH.V80I1.576","article-title":"The Rwanda National Blindness Survey: trends and use of the evidence to change practice and policy","volume":"80","author":"Mathenge","year":"2021","journal-title":"Afr Vis Eye Health"},{"key":"ref23","year":""},{"key":"ref24","year":""},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.4314\/WAJM.V30I1.69917","article-title":"Les causes de c\u00e9cit\u00e9 dans une \u00e9cole sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9e","volume":"30","author":"Onakpoya","year":"2011","journal-title":"West Afr J Med"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1186\/S12886-017-0609-X","article-title":"Retrospective data on causes of childhood vision impairment in Eritrea","volume":"17","author":"Gyawali","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMC Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/S12886-018-0710-9\/TABLES\/6","article-title":"Prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in an elderly population in Nepal: the Bhaktapur retina study","volume":"18","author":"Thapa","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref28","year":""},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.1016\/J.OPTOM.2020.10.003","article-title":"Definition of refractive errors for research studies: spherical equivalent could not be enough","volume":"14","author":"Galvis","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Optom"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/S12913-025-12776-9\/TABLES\/3","article-title":"Evaluating the access and utilization of eyecare services after the adoption of eyecare PBF and its financial sustainability: the case of Rwanda","volume":"25","author":"Humuza","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"ref31","volume-title":"National Plan of action on eye health 2018\u20132024","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref32","year":""},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1566","DOI":"10.3889\/OAMJMS.2022.9028","article-title":"Demographic characteristics and causes of visual impairment in the White Nile state of Sudan: a hospital-based study","volume":"10","author":"Ali","year":"2022","journal-title":"Open Access Maced J Med Sci"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0276194","DOI":"10.1371\/JOURNAL.PONE.0276194","article-title":"Prevalence and associated factors of visual impairment among adult diabetic patients visiting Adare general hospital, Hawassa, South Ethiopia, 2022","volume":"17","author":"Alemayehu","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.19080\/JOJO.2019.07.555718","article-title":"Causes of visual impairment in the Bolgatanga municipality in the upper east region of Ghana","volume":"7","author":"Akpabla","year":"2019","journal-title":"JOJ Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"000158","DOI":"10.23880\/OAJO-16000158","article-title":"Prevalence and causes of visual impairment in Ekiti, Nigeria: a hospital based study","volume":"3","author":"Ajayi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Open Access J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.4102\/AVEH.V83I1.956","article-title":"Prevalence, causes and factors associated with vision impairment in Limpopo province","volume":"83","author":"Leshabane","year":"2024","journal-title":"Afr Vision Eye Health"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4102\/PHCFM.V7I1.728","article-title":"Prevalence and causes of visual impairment in patients seen at Nkhensani hospital eye clinic, South Africa","volume":"7","author":"Maake","year":"2015","journal-title":"Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.51329\/MEHDIOPHTHAL1438","article-title":"Common causes of visual impairment in the elderly","volume":"10","author":"Al-Namaeh","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med Hyp Discov Innov Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2312","DOI":"10.3390\/HEALTHCARE10112312","article-title":"Visual impairment and blindness among patients at Nigeria Army eye Centre, bonny cantonment Lagos, Nigeria","volume":"10","author":"Ezinne","year":"2022","journal-title":"Healthcare"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.15386\/MPR-1761","article-title":"Causes, occupational risk and socio-economic determinants of eye injuries: a literature review","volume":"94","author":"Kyriakaki","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med Pharm Rep"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.4103\/JMH.JMH_28_22","article-title":"Gender difference in ocular diseases, risk factors and management with specific reference to role of sex steroid hormones","volume":"13","author":"Korpole","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Midlife Health"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2025.1701330\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T05:17:42Z","timestamp":1763356662000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2025.1701330\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2025.1701330"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2025.1701330","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"article-number":"1701330"}}