Prevalence, causes, and barriers of severe visual impairment and blindness in Arab countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Arab countries carry above-global rates of severe vision loss, so BCBAs there should screen every client and plan for modified autism assessments when eyesight is poor.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at every paper on blindness in Arab countries. They pulled the numbers into one big pile.
They wanted the true rate of severe vision loss across the region.
What they found
About 4 in every 100 people have severe visual impairment. Another 4.6 in 100 are blind.
Both rates sit above world averages. Cataracts and diabetic eye disease top the causes.
How this fits with other research
Rattan et al. (2025) zoom in on Iraqi kids with autism. Half of them already carry a diagnosed vision problem, showing the Arab-wide risk starts young.
Stevenson et al. (2025) warn that no standard autism test works off-the-shelf for blind kids. Their scoping review explains why you must tweak or build tools when vision is poor.
Kuhl et al. (2015) describe West Bank families who cannot reach any autism services. The same wall of systemic barriers appears in the vision data, just for a different condition.
Day et al. (2021) find only 57% of North-American autistic children saw an eye doctor in two years. The access gap echoes across continents.
Why it matters
If you practice in Arab countries, expect more clients with low vision than world tables suggest. Build in a quick vision screen at intake, even when autism is the referral. When a child has both diagnoses, borrow the modification tips from Moire et al. and watch for cataract or diabetes red flags. Push for local eye clinics and parent education; the review shows systemic hurdles, not medical mystery, drive most of the excess blindness.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Visual impairment (VI), including severe visual impairment (SVI; visual acuity < 6/60 to ≥ 3/60) and blindness (VA < 3/60), is a critical public health issue in Arab countries, exacerbated by socioeconomic disparities and limited access to eye care services. AIMS: This systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the prevalence of SVI and blindness in Arab countries using WHO ICD-11 definitions, identifies primary causes, and examines barriers to equitable eye health. METHODS: English- and Arabic-language studies were searched across multiple databases. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the JBI appraisal tool. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects model in Jamovi. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of SVI was 4.0 % (95 % CI: 2.49-5.51 %) and blindness was 4.65 % (95 % CI: 3.26-6.04 %), both exceeding global averages (3.78 % and 0.55 %, respectively). Primary causes included cataracts (29-66.2 %), diabetic retinopathy (32.9 %), glaucoma (24-55.7 %), and uncorrected refractive errors (48.6 %). Reported barriers to eye care access included financial constraints, geographic inaccessibility, a shortage of trained personnel, social stigma, and educational exclusion, disproportionately affecting women, rural communities, and marginalized groups. The causes of VI varied by age group: congenital anomalies and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were more prevalent among infants and children, while cataracts and glaucoma were predominant in older adults. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The high prevalence of severe VI and blindness in Arab countries reflects underlying systemic challenges. Policies should prioritize mobile eye clinics, neonatal screening (e.g., for ROP), specialist workforce training, subsidized surgeries, and early habilitation to improve developmental outcomes and quality of life for children. Culturally sensitive awareness campaigns, assistive technologies, and regional collaboration are essential to promote equitable eye care.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105074