Vision of Strabismic Children in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the visual pattern of strabismic children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among primary school children in Ilorin South Local Government Area. A cluster random sampling technique was used to select the subjects for this study. The pattern of vision of children found to have ocular misalignment was studied. Results: A total of 7288 school children were screened and this yielded 22 cases of esotropia and 10 cases of exotropia. Their ages ranged from 2 to 16 years; 78.1% of the study group had normal vision; 3.1% had low vision and another 3.1% was blind. Eight-two per cent (82%) of the children with esotropia had normal vision, while 4.5% were blind; 70% of the children with exotropia had normal vision; 10% of exotropics had low vision. Twenty-five per cent(25%) of the strabismic population was amblyopic, and the majority of the cases of amblyopia (62.5%) were associated with esotropia. The prevalence of strabismic amblyopia was found to be 0.11%. Conclusion: The majority of strabismic children had normal vision. The prevalence of low vision and blindness was low. The prevalence of strabismic amblyopia was also low in the study population and most of it was associated with esotropia. Keywords: esotropia, exotropia, amblyopia, children, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 16 (1) 2008: pp. 12-1

Appropriateness of Ophthalmic Cases Presenting to a Nigerian Tertiary Health Facility: Implications for Service Delivery in a Developing Country

To assesswhether the ophthalmic cases presenting at aNigerian tertiary eye unit are appropriate for such level of care and also drawnecessary implications for service delivery. : Data on 1,321 consecutive new patients that presented at the ophthalmic clinic of the University of Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria between February and July 2005 were reviewed on demographics, referral routes, and reasons for patronage, diagnoses and disease categories. Information on the general situation of health infrastructures prevailing at the surrounding health facilitieswas collected fromkey-informants. One thousand and ninety-one (82.6%) presentedwithout any referral and 1,095 (82.9%) patronized in order to access perceived good quality of eye care service being rendered. However, only a small proportion of their ailments (191, 14.5%) actually required attention at the tertiary level of eye care. The key informants painted a picture of severely-challenged general and health infrastructures particularly at the primary health care facility level An overwhelming majority of ophthalmic patients directly accessed eye care at the tertiary level, even though most of their ailments could have been satisfactorily treated at the lower facilities of health care were the latter to be functioning optimally. A better coordinated and strengthened health care system, particularly at the primary and secondary health care facilities would ease the burden of inappropriate presentations on tertiary health facilities inNigeria.Keywords: Health care utilization pattern, referral routes

Refractive Error among Strabismic Children in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the pattern of refractive errors among a group of strabismic children. Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out among primary school children in Ilorin South Local Government area of Kwara State, Nigeria to isolate those with manifest strabismus. These children with manifest strabismus then underwent a full ocular examination followed by an objective refraction using a Topcon 8000R autorefractometer without cycloplegia and then a subjective refraction. Results: Of the 7288 children screened, there were 32 cases of strabismus (22 esotropia and 10 exotropia) consisting of 19 males and 13 females (M: F = 1.5:1). Hypermetropia was the commonest refractive error among the children (50%) followed by astigmatism (30%) and myopia (20%). There was more astigmatism among esotropic children (66.7%) compared to exotropic children (33.3%). Majority of the hypermetropia (85%) was associated with esotropia while most of the myopia (62.5%) was associated with exotropia. The prevalence of significant refractive error was found to be 34.4% (95% CI, 34.2 – 34.6). A great proportion of the refractive errors are in the mild and moderate category. It was only among hypermetropic children that refractive errors greater than ±5.0DS/Cyl in any meridian was found. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of significant refractive error in the study population. Hypermetropia is the dominant refractive error seen in this study and most of it is found among the esotropic children. There was more myopia among exotropic children compared to esotropic ones but the difference is not statistically significant.Keywords: Refractive Error, Strabismus, Children, Ilori

Barriers to uptake of orthodox eye care in a rural Nigerian community

No Abstract.Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2007: pp.23-2

Eye Care Preferences Among Rural Nigerians

This is a cross sectional community based study that determined the eye care seeking dispositions of the adult Nigerians using the inhabitants of Afon a rural community in Kwara State, Nigeria as a case study. A total of three hundred and thirty nine (339) adult inhabitants of the Community were selected using cluster sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered on the respondents by the author and three assistants. Most respondents (62.5%) resorted to orthodox eye care while a few (8.8%) sought traditional eye care. Others (26.3%) received no treatment at all while 2.4% sought spiritual and other combinations. The preferred mode of eye care was the orthodox care. Keywords: Eye Care, Preferences, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 17 (2) 2007: pp. 116-12

Community Acceptance of Collaboration Between Ophthalmologists and Traditional Healers in Rural Nigeria

This is a cross sectional community-based study that determined acceptability of collaboration between ophthalmologists and traditional eye care providers in Afon a rural community in Kwara state, Nigeria. The views of traditional healers and ophthalmologists were also sought. This study was conducted between March and April, 2005 as well as September,2007. A total number of three hundred and thirty nine adult inhabitants of the community were selected by the authors using cluster sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered on the respondents by the author for correspondence and three assistants. Information regarding bio data and view of respondents on prospects of collaboration between ophthalmologists and traditional eye care providers were obtained. A focus group discussion was held between the author for correspondence and thirty two traditional healers practicing in the community in April,2005 to establish their readiness for collaboration with ophthalmologists .One hundred and one ophthalmologists practicing in Nigeria were interviewed during the annual congress of the Ophthalmological society of Nigeria in September,2007 to establish their views on collaboration with traditional healers. Majority (77%) of the respondents in Afon community expressed support for collaboration between ophthalmologists and traditional healers while 20% did not support collaboration. The thirty two traditional healers practicing in the community were ready for collaboration with ophthalmologists. Majority of the ophthalmologists interviewed (57.6%) were against collaboration with traditional healers. Collaboration between eye care providers and traditional healers is acceptable to Afon community and traditional healers. However most Nigerian ophthalmologists are against collaboration with traditional healers. There is need for flexibility on the part of all concerned for any meaningful collaboration between ophthalmologists and traditional healers. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 52 (3) 2007: pp. 70-7

Ophthalmic surgical practice In Ilorin, Nigeria in the 1990s

The treatment of ocular morbidity to restore vision often requires surgery. This study was done to determine the frequency of such surgical interventions and the various types of ophthalmic surgery done at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Nigeria. A retrospective review of all ophthalmic surgical procedures done in UITH between January 1990 and December, 2000 was carried out. The records were obtained from the operating theatre's register. Data analysis was with SPSS version 10. Within the study period, 1398 ocular surgeries were performed. Cataract surgery was the commonest (54.5%) and mostly performed in the 50-69 years age group; repair of corneal laceration was next (6.9%). The third most common surgery was pterygium excision (6.7%), common in the 30-69 years age group. Trabeculectomy for glaucoma was in the fourth position (6.2%). Destructive surgery (evisceration, enucleation and exenteration) was performed more in the paediatric age group. Cataract blindness is curable by surgery; the progression of glaucoma could be arrested with surgery. Early surgical intervention in ocular trauma would not only restore anatomical integrity but functional ability of the eye. The cataract surgical output could be improved upon by organizing outreach program and peripheral eye clinics. Use of protective eye shields by susceptible individuals would minimize ocular morbidity from trauma. Prompt referral of children with potential blinding eye injury or treatable ocular tumour would reduce the incidence of destructive surgeries in children. Keywords: ophthalmic surgeries, practice, Ilorin, Nigeria The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13(2) 2006: 31-3