Prevalence of Refractive Error and Attitude to Spectacle Use among Drivers of Public Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: High rate of motor vehicle accidents have been associated with poor vision. Studies on drivers from elsewhere other than health institutions have found abnormal visual acuities. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence of refractive errors and the attitude to spectacle wear among drivers of public institutions studied. Methods: A cross sectional population study of all 99 motor vehicle drivers from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan between December 2003 and January 2004. Results: The ninety-nine motor vehicle drivers in the study comprised of 67 (67.7%) from the College of Medicine, and 32 (32.3%) from the UCH. All were males, aged 38 to 60 years, mean 50.1 \ub1 (SD= 4.8 years). Proportion of drivers with refractive errors was 16.7% (95% CI, 16.6-16.8) but only 56.3% of these wear glasses while driving (others did not including 3 out 4 who were bilaterally visually impaired without glasses). Relative frequency of RTA among drivers was 16.2%, the risk was marginally higher among drivers with refractive error (OR 1.2, 95% CI: 0.4-3.7). The commonest refractive error was simple hypermetropia present in 15 eyes. Hypermetropia was associated with increasing age of drivers (p<0.05). Majority (97.7%) of the drivers were presbyopic but only 32 (32.3%) were current wearers of spectacles. Conclusion: Refractive errors were present in 16.7% of drivers studied. But 43.8% of these (3 out 4 of whom were bilaterally visually impaired without glasses) do not wear corrective lenses while driving. There is need for periodic visual screening exercise and eye health education on drivers.Introduction: Taux \ue9lev\ue9 des accidents de la circulation routi\ue8re est associ\ue9 \ue0 une mauvaise vision. Des \ue9tudes sur les chauffeurs ailleurs en d\ue9hors des centres hospitaliers ont indiqu\ue9 des acuit\ue9s visuelles anormales. L'objet de cette \ue9tude est de d\ue9cider la fr\ue9quence d'erreurs de r\ue9fraction et le comportement par rapport \ue0 l'utilisation des lunettes parmi des chauffeurs dans des institutions publiques. M\ue9thodes: Une \ue9tude d'un groupe repr\ue9sentatif de la population de tous le 99 chauffeurs des voitures du Coll\ue8ge hospitaliter universitaire d'Ibadan et du Coll\ue8ge de la m\ue9dicine, Universit\ue9 d'Ibadan entre d\ue9cembre 2003 et janvier 2004. R\ue9sultats: Quatre-vingt dix-neuf chauffeurs des vehicles dans cette \ue9tude \ue0 savoir, 67 soit 67,7% de Coll\ue8ge de la m\ue9dicine, et 32 soit 32,3% de CHU. Tous \ue9taient du sexe masculin , \ue2g\ue9s de 38 au 60 ans, moyen 50,1 \ub1 (SD = 4,8 ans) La proportion des chauffeurs avec erreurs de r\ue9fraction \ue9tait 16,7% soit 95% cl, 16,6 \u2013 16,8) mais seulement 56,3% de ceux qui portent des lunettes pendant qu'il conduissent (les autres ne le fait pas y compris 3 sur 4 qui sont bilat\ue9ralement des personnes qui ont des probl\ue8mes de vue sans des lunettes) fr\ue9quence r\ue9lative de ACR parmi des chauffeurs \ue9tait 16,2%. Le danger est presque plus \ue9lev\ue9 parmi des chauffeurs avec des erreurs de r\ue9fraction (OR 1, 2,95% cl ; 0,4 \u2013 3,7). L'erreur de r\ue9fraction le plus ordinaire \ue9tait tout simplement l'hyperm\ue9tropie qui est present dans 15 yeux. L'yperm\ue9tropie \ue9tait associe\ue9 \ue0 l'augmentation de l'\ue2ge des chauffeurs (P<0,05) La majorit\ue9 soit 97,7% des chauffeurs \ue9taient presbyopique mais seulement 32 soit 32,3% \ue9taient des porteurs actuel des lunettes. Conclusion: Errurs de r\ue9fraction \ue9taient present en 16,7% des chauffeurs \ue9tudi\ue9s. Mais 43,8% de ceuxci (3 entre 4 dont \ue9tait bilat\ue9ralement des personnes qui ont des probl\ue8mes de vue sans de lunettes) ne portent pas des lunettes quand ils conduissent. C'est n\ue9cessaire de faire un d\ue9pistage visuel p\ue9riodique et cr\ue9er une renseignment m\ue9dicale sur les yeux pour des chauffeur

ORIGINAL ARTICLE - A comparative evaluation of outcome of cataract surgery at Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

Objective: To compare the outcome of cataract surgery using intracapsular/ extracapsular extraction alone to surgery with lens implantation. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who had cataract surgery by all methods between February 1998 and October 1999 at St Mary's Catholic eye hospital Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state, for post operative visual acuity and surgery related complications. Results: Two hundred and forty nine eyes of 211 patients were reviewed. 128 (60.7 %) were males and 83(39.3) were females. The age range was from 9years to 90years. Post op vision of 6/18 or better was present in 71% of the posterior chamber intra ocular lens (PC-IOL) group; 50% of anterior chamber lens (AC-IOL) group, 62% of intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) group and 31.2% of the extracapsular cataract extraction group. Preventable causes of poor visual outcome were present in 14.9% 0f the cases reviewed especially the ECCE and ICCE groups and included: posterior capsule opacity, uveitis, cystoid macular oedema and endophthalmitis. Poor outcome was associated with pre-existing ocular disease in 10.8% of the eyes operated and were due to pre-existing glaucoma, macular degeneration, optic atrophy and diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: Best functional visual results are obtained by modern techniques of ECCE with IOL, which ensures that the patient has adequate post op vision for his needs. Adequate case selection to exclude pre-existing ocular morbidity as well as prevention or proper management of surgery related complications when they occur are also essential for satisfactory results. Older techniques of ICCE or ECCE with out IOL are associated with less satisfactory functional visual acuity and should therefore be discouraged

Comparison of fixed weight and digital massage techniques for intraocular pressure reduction after peribulbar anaesthesia

Objective: To compare the rate of intraocular pressure reduction using two methods of external compression digital massage and fixed weight after a peribulbar anaesthetic injection prior to cataract surgery. Methods: 70 eyes of 70 patients for elective cataract surgery were studied. There were two groups of equal numbers. All received an equal volume of 2% xylocaine injection mixed with 1:1000 Adrenaline (at a dilution of 1:100,000) by the peribulbar method. Both groups received post injection external ocular compression for ten minutes. Pressure reduction was achieved in group A through external digital massage, and group B by application of the McIntyre bag of mercury pressure reducer. Results: Pressure reduction was faster in group A than in group B. The mean pre-injection IOP was 11.26mmHg (3.51) in group A and 11.49mmHg (3.61) in group B. The mean IOP by 5 minutes of compression was 6.57mmHg (4.37) (range 1-14mmHg) and 11.06mmHg (5.40)(range 3-26mmHg) for groups A and B respec-tively. Over 40% of the subjects in group A had an IOP between 0-5mmHg, while only 11% of those in group B had an IOP in this range. After 10 minutes the mean IOP was 3.37 mmHg (3.12)(range 0-10mmHg) in group A and 8.86mmHg(3.34) (range 1-26mmHg) in group B; 77% of the subjects in group A compared to 29% of those in group B had an IOP in the range of 0-5mmHg. Conclusion: Pressure reduction in group A was faster and seemed adequate for over 40% of subjects by 5 minutes of compression, further compression till 10 minutes ensures adequate pressure reduction for both groups but more so for digital massage. Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 12(2): 60-6

Prevalence of Refractive Error and Attitude to Spectacle Use among Drivers of Public Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: High rate of motor vehicle accidents have been associated with poor vision. Studies on drivers from elsewhere other than health institutions have found abnormal visual acuities. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence of refractive errors and the attitude to spectacle wear among drivers of public institutions studied. Methods: A cross sectional population study of all 99 motor vehicle drivers from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan between December 2003 and January 2004. Results: The ninety-nine motor vehicle drivers in the study comprised of 67 (67.7%) from the College of Medicine, and 32 (32.3%) from the UCH. All were males, aged 38 to 60 years, mean 50.1 ± (SD= 4.8 years). Proportion of drivers with refractive errors was 16.7% (95% CI, 16.6-16.8) but only 56.3% of these wear glasses while driving (others did not including 3 out 4 who were bilaterally visually impaired without glasses). Relative frequency of RTA among drivers was 16.2%, the risk was marginally higher among drivers with refractive error (OR 1.2, 95% CI: 0.4-3.7). The commonest refractive error was simple hypermetropia present in 15 eyes. Hypermetropia was associated with increasing age of drivers (p<0.05). Majority (97.7%) of the drivers were presbyopic but only 32 (32.3%) were current wearers of spectacles. Conclusion: Refractive errors were present in 16.7% of drivers studied. But 43.8% of these (3 out 4 of whom were bilaterally visually impaired without glasses) do not wear corrective lenses while driving. There is need for periodic visual screening exercise and eye health education on drivers.Introduction: Taux élevé des accidents de la circulation routière est associé à une mauvaise vision. Des études sur les chauffeurs ailleurs en déhors des centres hospitaliers ont indiqué des acuités visuelles anormales. L&apos;objet de cette étude est de décider la fréquence d&apos;erreurs de réfraction et le comportement par rapport à l&apos;utilisation des lunettes parmi des chauffeurs dans des institutions publiques. Méthodes: Une étude d&apos;un groupe représentatif de la population de tous le 99 chauffeurs des voitures du Collège hospitaliter universitaire d&apos;Ibadan et du Collège de la médicine, Université d&apos;Ibadan entre décembre 2003 et janvier 2004. Résultats: Quatre-vingt dix-neuf chauffeurs des vehicles dans cette étude à savoir, 67 soit 67,7% de Collège de la médicine, et 32 soit 32,3% de CHU. Tous étaient du sexe masculin , âgés de 38 au 60 ans, moyen 50,1 ± (SD = 4,8 ans) La proportion des chauffeurs avec erreurs de réfraction était 16,7% soit 95% cl, 16,6 – 16,8) mais seulement 56,3% de ceux qui portent des lunettes pendant qu&apos;il conduissent (les autres ne le fait pas y compris 3 sur 4 qui sont bilatéralement des personnes qui ont des problèmes de vue sans des lunettes) fréquence rélative de ACR parmi des chauffeurs était 16,2%. Le danger est presque plus élevé parmi des chauffeurs avec des erreurs de réfraction (OR 1, 2,95% cl ; 0,4 – 3,7). L&apos;erreur de réfraction le plus ordinaire était tout simplement l&apos;hypermétropie qui est present dans 15 yeux. L&apos;ypermétropie était associeé à l&apos;augmentation de l&apos;âge des chauffeurs (P<0,05) La majorité soit 97,7% des chauffeurs étaient presbyopique mais seulement 32 soit 32,3% étaient des porteurs actuel des lunettes. Conclusion: Errurs de réfraction étaient present en 16,7% des chauffeurs étudiés. Mais 43,8% de ceuxci (3 entre 4 dont était bilatéralement des personnes qui ont des problèmes de vue sans de lunettes) ne portent pas des lunettes quand ils conduissent. C&apos;est nécessaire de faire un dépistage visuel périodique et créer une renseignment médicale sur les yeux pour des chauffeur