title: Visual acuity of commercial motor drivers in Ogun State of Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To objectively assess the visual acuity of commercial motor drivers (CMD) in 3 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Ogun State of Nigeria in order to determine their eligibility to drive.
  
  
  METHODS
  The visual acuities of CMDs in 3 LGAS of Ogun state in Nigeria (selected using a multistage sampling technique) were tested with Snellens acuity charts and the eyes examined with bright pen torches and ophthamoscopes. Visual acuity 6/12 or better in the worse eye was taken as adequate to obtain a driving license. The drivers with worse visual acuities were further examined to find the cause of decreased vision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visual acuities of 524 drivers were determined and analyzed.  Their ages ranged from 19-66 years with a mean of 46.8 ±7.2 years. Two hundred and twenty (41.9%) of the drivers were between 40 and 49 years old.  Four hundred and four (77.1%) did not have any form of eye test prior to this study.   Four hundred and sixty three drivers (88.4%) were eligible to drive while 61 drivers (11.6%) were not eligible. Decreased visual acuity was caused by refractive error in 22(36.1%), cataract in 19(31.2%), glaucoma in 12(19.7%), corneal scar in 5(8.2%) and posterior segment lesions in 3(4.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Objective assessment of vision should be an essential component of licensure. Middle aged and elderly drivers are prone to age related ocular diseases and require reassessment of visual status every 3 years when licenses are renewed.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun state Nigeria. tonionabolu@yahoo.com
authors: O O
authors: OO
authors: Onabolu
authors: O T
authors: OT
authors: Bodunde
authors: T O
authors: TO
authors: Otulana
authors: H A
authors: HA
authors: Ajibode
authors: O G
authors: OG
authors: Awodein
authors: O J
authors: OJ
authors: Onadipe
authors: O A
authors: OA
authors: Jagun
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000592:standards*; D003132:Commerce / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D014792:Visual Acuity