Retinal diseases in a tertiary hospital: the need for establishment of a vitreo-retinal care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the need for vitreo-retinal care for suburban and rural communities of southwestern Nigeria.


METHODS
A retrospective review of patients with posterior segment diseases attending the general ophthalmology clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital's complex, Ile Ife, southwestern Nigeria, between January 2001 and December 2006 was conducted. The age, sex and diagnosis were analyzed and needs assessment conducted.


RESULTS
Three-thousand, one-hundred-thirty-one new cases were reviewed of which 407(13%) patients presented with retinal diseases. Their mean age was 46.3 +/- 21.4 years, mode 60 years and male:female ratio 1.3:1 (P=0.05). Macula diseases (35.6%), hypertensive retinopathy (12%), retinochoroiditis (11.5%) and diabetic retinopathy (9.6%) were the predominant retinal diseases. Age-related macular degeneration was the most frequent of the macular diseases (38.6%), with a female preponderance (p=0.06). It is estimated that fundus photography +/- fluorescein will be beneficial in 89.4%, laser photocoagulation in 36.4% and vitreo-retinal surgical procedure in 16.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
Posterior segment diseases are not uncommon in rural communities of southwestern Nigeria. Facilities for fundus angiography, laser photocoagulation and a vitreoretinal surgical unit in trained hands will improve the capacity for specific diagnosis and appropriate management of vitreo-retinal diseases in these communities.
Onakpoya
Oluwatoyin Helen
OH
Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo, University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. uvtoyin2@yahoo.co.uk
Olateju
Samuel Oluremi
SO
Ajayi
Iyiade Adeseye
IA
D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014822:Vitreous Body