Refractive Error Status in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Background: Refractive errors affect the whole spectrum of the population without regard to age, gender, race and ethnic group. Uncorrected refractive errors have severe consequences for the individual, family and society. This study , is the first of its kind, to document the distribution of refractive errors in Bayelsa State. Methods: Records of patients who presented between January 2004 and October 2005 in Okolobiri General Hospital—the government-subsidized eye clinic in Okolobiri, Bayelsa State—for treatment were examined. Myopia was defined as ≥- 0.50DS; hyperopia as ≥+ 1.00DS; while astigmatism was defined as ≥- 0.25DC. Emmetropia was defined as spherical power of –0.25D to +0.75D. Results of the right eye were used for analysis. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. Results: A total of 654 patients were analyzed. There were 319 male and 335 female patients (48.8% and 51.2% respectively)with an age range of 5 – 86 years. Mean age was 42.18 years (SD 13.1, 95% CI = 41.17 – 43.19 years). Significant refractive errors were observed in 355 cases (54.3%), while 299 (45.7%) were emmetropic. Of the 355 with refractive error, 181 (51%) were men and 174 (49%) were woman. Astigmatism was the commonest refractive error (n=162, 45.7%) followed by myopia (n = 113, 31.8%) and hyperopia (n = 80, 22.5%). The range of refractive power was as follows: astigmatism, - 0.25DC to – 1.75DC. Myopia, - 0.50D to - 9.00D; hyperopia, + 1.00DS to + 11.00DS; More male patients have hyperopia and myopia while more female patients have astigmatism. Presbyopia as indicated by the use of near addition, was present in 490 (74.9%) of the subjects. Conclusion: Significant refractive error was present in over half of patients presenting in the period under analysis. The range of refractive errors recorded will assist in planning self-sustaining low-cost refractive error services in the state.Key words: refractive error, presbyopia, astigmatism, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Refractive Error Status In Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Refractive errors affect the whole spectrum of the population without regard to age, gender, race and ethnic group. Uncorrected refractive errors have severe consequences for the individual, family and society.Records showthat no study documenting the distribution of refractive errors in Bayelsa State had been carried out. Records of patients who presented between January, 2004 and October, 2005 in the government-subsidized eye clinic of the Niger-Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri for refractive error servicewere reviewed.Myopiawas defined as = -0.50DS; hyperopia as = +1.00DS while astigmatismwas definedas = -0.25DC. Emmetropiawas defined as spherical power of -0.25Dto +0.75D. Results of the right eyewere usedfor analysis.Datawere analyzedusingthe Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. In this retrospective study, a total of 654 patients fitted the inclusion criteria. There were 319 males and 335 females (48.78%and 51.22% respectively) with an age range of 5 - 86 years. Mean age was 42.18±13.1 (95% CI = 41.17 - 43.19) years. Significant refractive error was observed in 355 cases (54.28%) while 299 (45.72%) were emmetropic. Of the 355 with refractive error, 181 (50.99%) were male and 174 (49.01%) were females. Astigmatism was the commonest refractive error (n=162, 45.63%) followed by myopia (n=113, 51.83%) and hyperopia (n=80, 22.54%). The ranges of refractive power were as follows: astigmatism, -0.25DC to -1.75DC; Myopia, -0.50D to -9.00D and hyperopia, +1.00DS to +11.00DS. More males had hyperopia and myopia while more females had astigmatism. Presbyopia as indicated by the use of near addition was present in 490 (74.92%) of the subjects.The results can be used for planning self sustaining refractive error services in the state. Keywords: Emmetropia,Myopia,Hyperopia,Astigmatism, Presbyopia