CSR has increased in Yemen in the recent years but is still below the target suggested by WHO. There is need to increase the cataract surgical rate in Yemen mainly in rural areas. Inadequate number of eye surgeons, limited accessibility of cataract surgical services in rural areas and the affordability of surgery to large sections of society are major constraints that have to be addressed. The information from this study will help and enable Ministry of Health and other eye care providers to more equitably disperse trained ophthalmic personnel and eye units in Yemeni governorates.

Purpose:To compare the effect of oral acetazolamide and topical 2% dorzolamide in prevention of ocular hypertension after scleral tunnel cataract surgery.Setting:Ophthalmic department, Sana’a University, Yemen Sana’a from March 2007 to October 2007.Methods:This prospective double-blind, randomized study included 150 eyes undergoing scleral tunnel cataract surgery with hard posterior chamber intraocular implantation. Methylcellulose was used as the viscoelastic in all surgery cases. Patients were assigned to one of three groups: group 1: topical gentamicin eye drops (control; n = 52); group 2: systemic acetazolamide 250 mg (n = 45); and group 3: topical 2% dorzolamide (n = 53). Acetazolamide patients received one 250 mg tablet, one hour before surgery, then half a tablet every eight hours. A topical dorzolamide 2% or gentamicin was applied in one drop one hour before surgery then every eight hours, for three days postoperatively. Intraocular pressures (IOP) were measured by Goldman applanation tonometry one hour preoperatively and 16, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively.Results:At 16 hours, IOP between the three groups increased significantly with a statistically significant p-value of 0.008, but the mean IOP of acetazolamide patients was less than other groups. IOP nearly returned to the normal level 24 and 48 hours postoperatively, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.452 and 0.138, respectively).Conclusion:Acetazolamide offers better IOP control than topical dorzolamide 2% in preventing ocular hypertension after scleral tunnel cataract surgery.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to undertake an analysis of the eye care services situation in Yemen and to assess ophthalmic human resources, eye units' ownership and ophthalmic equipments. Methods: Eye care providers were surveyed by a standardized questionnaire which was sent to the 184 eye units in governmental, university, military, private and charity clinics and hospitals in Yemen and covered the period between 01 January to 31 December 2012. The questionnaire determined location, human resources and eye units' ownership and ophthalmic equipments. Results: The response rate to the questionnaire was 80.7%. During 2012, 184 eye units involved in providing eye care services in Yemen. 25% of eye units represent public sector, 72.3% represent private sector and 2.7% belong to non-governmental charity organizations. 682 people worked in eye care services of which 268 are ophthalmic doctors that is equivalent to 1.06 per 100,000 populations. Human resources and eye care equipments were below vision 2020 targets. There is significant unequal distribution of eye care services provision between urban and rural areas in Yemen. OR, 7(1): 1-7, 2017; Article no.OR.33295 2 Conclusion: Deficiency, maldistribution and inadequate training of ophthalmic doctors in addition to poor financial resources to establish and provide eye care units with good infrastructure. All these factors are regarded as major factors that cause underperformance in the Yemeni eye health system. We recommend equal distribution of trained ophthalmic doctors and personnel with good financial support for eye care services in rural areas of Yemen. Original Research Article

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