Blindness and visual impairment in Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria: a hospital-based study.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to determine the magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment in Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.


METHODS
A retrospective clinic based study to analyse the cases of patients with blindness in general hospitals of Iperu and Isara areas of Ogun state between May 2005 and December 2005. The data of demographic characteristics and diagnosis were retrieved from the outpatient cards.


RESULTS
Three hundred and sixty-nine cases registered in the eye clinic during the period of the study and were examined. 177 were males and 190 were females. The age range of patients seen was between 17 days and 89years with a mean age of 43.3 years, ± 23.62(SD). 116 patients were aged 70years and above while 13 patients were less than 10years. 29.5% of the clinic attendance were uniocularly blind, 21.1% were bilaterally blind while 25 2% were visually impaired. 55.1% of the bilateral blindness was in males. 30.8% cases of the bilaterally blind were from age related cataract, 23.1% from glaucoma, 6 cases were due to Retinitis Pigmentosa and 3 from pterygium, Cataract followed by glaucoma was the leading cause of uniocular blindness. Cataract was responsible for 66.7% of visually impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
Blindness and visual impairment is a public health problem in Remo Ogun State, Nigeria; cataract, glaucoma and pterygium were the important causes of blindness and visual impairment. The major causes of blindness in this part of Ogun state are preventable.
Dept of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 2022, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. solyotulana@yahoo.com
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Otulana
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*