Survey of blindness in rural communities of south-western Nigeria.
A population based survey of rural communities in the Akinlalu-Ashipa ward of Ife North Local Government in Osun State, Nigeria, was conducted to determine the prevalence and causes of blindness. 2921 inhabitants were screened by a random cluster sample technique, out of whom 27 were blind in both eyes. The overall prevalence rate of blindness (best corrected visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye) was found to be 0.9% (95% confidence interval 0.84-0.96%). The rate of blindness increased with age, especially from age 60. The major causes of blindness were cataract and its sequelae (48.1%), onchocerciasis (14.8%), primary open angle type glaucoma (11.1%), corneal scar/phthisis bulbi (7.4%) and optic atrophy (7.4%). About half of the blindness is potentially curable through cataract surgery, and a third preventable through health education, early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Surgery Department, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
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Adeoye
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012424:Rural Population