Pattern of eye diseases among welders in a Nigeria community.
BACKGROUND
Welders have been identified as a high risk group for eye disorders due to their exposure to ultraviolet radiation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and types of eye diseases amongst welders in Ile-Ife, Osun state.


METHODS
This is a cross sectional descriptive study of 405 consenting welders. Information on socio-demographic characteristics was obtained using a pre-tested proforma and all subjects had visual actuity test, anterior and posterior segments examination, test of stereopsis and macular function.


RESULTS
Two hundred and seventy five (67.9%) of the respondents were arc welders, 99(22.5%) were gas welders while 39(9.6%) utilized both welding techniques. The age of the respondents ranged from 16 years to 80 years with a mean of 38 ± 13 years. Conjunctival degenerative disorders like pingueculum (50.1%) and pterygium(17.5%) constituted the commonest eye disorders among the welders. There were 6 blind eyes of 5 welders with pigmentary maculopathy accounting for the single case of bilateral blindness. There is a greater odd in developing pingueculum and Pterygium (OR=1.015, 1.039 respectively) in arc welders than in gas welders.


CONCLUSIONS
Pingueculum, Pterygium, corneal opacity, and pigmentary macular deposits were the common eye disorders among welders.
Department of Ophthalmology, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti Ekiti state, Nigeria. iyiseye2005@yahoo.com
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Ajayi Iyiade
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Omotoye Olusola
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014896:Welding; D055815:Young Adult