Attendance at the Eye Department Harare, Zimbabwe: the spectrum of clinical presentations.
OBJECTIVE
To present data on presentation patterns of ophthalmic disease in a developing country, highlight areas of change and suggest policy to improve the current situation.


METHODS
Cross sectional study.


METHODS
Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Department, Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
All new patients presenting to the department during a one week period.


METHODS
Referral route, time from onset of symptoms to presentation and mode of injury where appropriate as stated by the patient; diagnosis made by trained ophthalmologist.


RESULTS
196 patients presented during the five day period, 61.2% male, 38.8% female. The majority of patients were males of working age, presenting themselves or referred from an urban clinic. The most common diagnostic group was trauma (21.9%) usually occurring in the workplace, of which 53.5% were corneal foreign bodies. 37% of trauma cases presented the same day, and over 50% within 24 hours of injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The study was carried out as a pilot audit project and shows there have been some noticeable changes to the presentation of eye disease over the last 20 years, with patients presenting sooner with trauma and more frequently overall. The introduction of policies concerning the use of safety goggles at work may begin to reduce eye disease due to trauma.
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Pilling
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology