Retinitis pigmentosa in Benin, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the mode of presentation and degree of visual impairment of retinitis pigmentosa in Nigerians. Design: A prospective, non-comparative study. Setting: University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Subjects: Thirty Nigerian patients with a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa who presented at the Eye Clinic of the Ophthalmology Department of the University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria over a three year period (July 1997-June 2000) were included in the study. The clinical features and mode of presentation were noted. The examination included visual acuity, slit lamp examination and fundoscopy. Main outcome measures: Presenting symptoms and signs, visual acuity. Results: The degree of visual impairment and clinical features in thirty Nigerians with retinitis pigmentosa seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria were studied. There were twenty males and ten females. The age range was 14 to 71 years (mean 36.7 years ± 14.8 years). Fifteen patients (50%) had visual acuity of less than 3/60 while only seven (23.3%) had visual acuity of 6/12 or better. The commonest mode of presentation was poor vision in 90% of the patients followed by night blindness in 56.7%. Others were headaches, flashes of light and floaters. Conclusion: The degree of visual loss in Nigerians with retinitis pigmentosa is severe and may be related to the long duration of the disease and age of the patients at presentation. Health education of the public and patients about the need for early presentation to hospital and the use of vitamin A and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are recommended. East African Medical Journal Vol. 81 No. 5 May 2004: 254-25

Ophthalmic Emergencies in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: The types and causes of ophthalmic emergencies atthe University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City werestudied prospectively over a 24-month period (January 2002-December 2003).Methods: All emergencies presenting at the University of BeninTeaching Hospital Eye Clinic during this period wererecorded. Cases booked for routine clinic visits were excluded.Also excluded were routine referrals to the eye clinic exceptthey required emergency treatment.Results: Ophthalmic emergencies constituted 1.1% of allemergencies seen in the hospital. Most of those who presentedwere children and young adults < 30 years. Males were moreaffected with a male: female ratio of 2.9:1. Trauma accountedfor 53.4% of the cases. This was either in the form ofcorneal/scleral laceration (22%), traumatic hyphaema(14.4%), ruptured globe (6.1%), lid laceration (4.1%) orburns (6.8%). Non-traumatic causes accounted for 34.1% andwere mostly due to infection/inflammatory causes, presentingeither as panophthalmitis (14.4%), corneal ulcers (10.6%), ororbital cellulitis (9.1%).Conclusion: A two-fold strategy for minimizing ophthalmicemergencies and reducing its devastating effects wasrecommended. Health education would promote the use ofprotective eyewear for high risk occupations, eradicate latepresentation thereby preventing deterioration of minor ocularproblems and minimizing severe complications. Adopting theprinciple of ‘injury control’ will ensure prevention; provideappropriate emergency medical services for the injured as wellas specialized rehabilitation facilities which should attempt toreturn the individual to their former level of functionalit

Plummer’s nails (onycholysis) in an adolescent nigerian girl with hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease

This paper reported a case of a 16 years old Nigerian girl with Plummer’s nails associated with hyperthyroid­ism (Graves’ disease). The issue of excessive weight gain after therapy for the Graves’ disease was also discussed. Following therapy, the patient gained 7 Kg over a period of 5 months. The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease was based on increased heart rate at rest, diffuse smooth goiter, mild ophthalmopathy, low TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level, elevated T3 (triiodothyronine)and T4 (tetraiodothyronine) levels. The paper emphasized the need for clinicians to be alert to the possibility of nail changes in adolescents with thyroid diseases and watch out for weight gain following successful therapy