Introduction
Retinal diseases are the major causes of visual impairment in the western countries but may be less important in the developing world where vision loss from preventable causes like cataract and corneal scarring predominate. However, a population-based survey in India indicated that retinal diseases were the primary causes of blindness in a significant percentage [12.7%] of the studied population (1). In the United States (2, 3) and Europe (4, 5), an annual incidence of retinal diseases or retinal detachment (RD) between 6 to 12 per 100,000 population per year have been reported. Population-based surveys on the incidence of RD in developing countries are scarce (6) and little is known about the incidence of retinal detachment in Africa (7).
As the number of cataract extractions performed these days is increasing, it is clear that pseudophakic RD will also increase correspondingly. As a result, in developing countries like Ethiopia, where there is lack of optimal operating facilities and few vitreoretinal surgeons, blindness from retinal diseases like RD, diabetic retinopathies and age-related macular degeneration will increase unless a strategy is designed to increase the numbers and improve the set-ups of the existing facilities and also increase the number of trained professionals in the field of retina.
Despite significant number of patients with RD being seen each year in the existing eye care facilities, there are no population-based surveys or hospital studies done to know the prevalence and identify the causes and risk factors of RD among Ethiopian patients.