title: Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness among Cocoa Farmers in Ghana.
abstract: To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among cocoa farmers in Ghana in order to formulate early intervention strategies.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study using multistage random sampling from four cocoa growing districts in Ghana was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014. A total of 512 cocoa farmers aged 40 years and older were interviewed and examined. The brief interview questionnaire was administered to elicit information on the demographics and socioeconomic details of participants. The examination included assessment of visual acuity (VA), retinoscopy, subjective refraction, direct ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and intraocular pressure (IOP). For quality assurance, a random sample of cocoa farmers were selected and re-examined independently.
  
  
  
  Moderate to severe visual impairment (VA <6/18 to 3/60 in the better-seeing eye) was present in 89 participants (17.4%) and 27 (5.3%) were blind (presenting VA <3/60 in the better eye) defined using presenting VA. The main causes of visual impairment were cataract (45, 38.8%), uncorrected refractive error (42, 36.2%), posterior segment disorders (15, 12.9%), and corneal opacity (11, 9.5%).
  
  
  
  The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness among cocoa farmers in Ghana is relatively high. The major causes of visual impairment and blindness are largely preventable or treatable, indicating the need for early eye care service interventions.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Optometry, School of Physical Sciences , University of Cape Coast , Cape Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel Bert
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Boadi-Kusi
authors.affiliation: b Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hansraj
authors.affiliation: b Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
authors.forename: Khathutshelo Percy
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mashige
authors.affiliation: c Eye Surgeon, Rose Mompi Eye Hospital, Dansoman, Accra-Ghana and Margaret Marquad Hospital , Kpando-Volta Region , Ghana.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osafo-Kwaako
authors.affiliation: a Department of Optometry, School of Physical Sciences , University of Cape Coast , Cape Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Alex Azuka
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ilechie
authors.affiliation: a Department of Optometry, School of Physical Sciences , University of Cape Coast , Cape Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abokyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Blindness; Ghana; cataract; cocoa farmers; uncorrected refractive error; visual impairment