Eye diseases and the causes of blindness in the southwestern Equator (equatorial forest) in Zaire, data from an eye camp in three rural centers.

Objective: To determine frequencies of eye diseases and causes of blindness in this rural area.
Method: During a one month period (February 1996), a study was carried out in three rural centers (Mbandaka, Iboko, Lukolela) in the South Western Equator, in the tropical equatorial forest area. A total of 700 patients were examined and ophthalmological examination included visual acuity, inspection of adnexa, refraction, slit-lamp examination, direct funduscopy and intraocular pressures.
Results: Cataract and glaucoma were the major ocular diseases found. Among the patients 1/5 was legally blind, and common causes of blindness were: cataract (54%), glaucoma (30%), uveitis (6%), corneal disorder (5%), retinitis pigmentosa (3%), atrophy of eye (3%).
Conclusion: Cataract and glaucoma constituted a public health problem in this rural area of Zaïre.