[Causes of blindness in 25% of the blind population in Croatia and the possibilities of prevention].

AIM: To identify the causes of blindness and to launch preventive actions to reduce the prevalence of blindness in Croatia.

METHODS

In February 2005, data on 25% of the blind population in Croatia including associations of the blind in the City of Zagreb, Koprivnica-Krizevci County and Medimurje County were analyzed.

RESULTS

The analysis showed the blind to account for 0.13% of the 4.5 million population of Croatia. The leading causes of blindness were myopia, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. In 212 individuals, blindness developed before age 16, in 84 of these due to retinopathy of prematurity.

CONCLUSION

Many ophthalmologic diseases are preventable or curable if early detected and timely treated. The prevention of blindness is of paramount social importance and definitely among most cost-effective interventions in health care.