A Survey of Pediatric Eye Diseases in a Tertiary Hospital in Osogbo, South‑west Nigeria

Background: Identifying common eye diseases in childhood is a Step towards the prevention of visual impairment and preservation of vision in children who still have many productive years ahead. Aim: The aim is to determine the spectrum of eye disorders in children attending a tertiary health institution to plan preventive and curative strategies. Methodology: This was a 4-year retrospective study of children 0–16 years who presented to a tertiary institution. Through retrieval and study of case notes, information on age, sex, duration before the presentation, month of presentation, and diagnosis were obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of 1120 case notes, studied, (53.8%) were male and (46.2%) female in a ratio of 1.6:1. The mean age was 8.54 years ± 5.03 and the modal age group was 11–16 years ± 0.85. About 51% (51.2%) had normal vision while (13.4%) were blind. The commonest eye disorders were conjunctivitis 488 (43.3%), refractive errors 292 (26.1%), and cornea-related problems 94 (8.4%). The less frequent disorders found were trauma 65 (5.8%), cataract 63 (5.6%), glaucoma 14 (4.3%), uveitis 7 (0.6%), and strabismus/others 67 (6.0%). Cataract 36/150 (24.0%) and refractive error 107/198 (54.0%) were the most common causes of blindness and visual impairment. Most children presented after 2–3 weeks of the onset of symptoms. Refractive error was more prevalent in females 176/518 (34.0%), while trauma was more prevalent in males 42/602 (7.0%). Conclusion: The common causes of ocular diseases in children in this study are avoidable. There should be an unrelenting effort toward the prevention of visual impairment or amblyopia by the provision of adequate treatment through subsidized eye care services. A follow-up study to ascertain the causes of delay in resentation would be helpful. Keywords: Children, eye care services, eye diseases, hospital, preventio

Honeybee sting of the sclera: occular features, treatment, outcome and presumed pathogenesis

Ocular bee sting injury has caused several reactions in the eye but has rarely been reported among local African farmers, and Nigerians in particular. This case seeks to report the first ocular and external eye  reactions following a honey bee sting of the eye through the sclera, highlighting the treatment and outcome. Oral interview, clinical examination and external photographs were used to obtain and document findings. Medical treatment was instituted as soon as subject presented. There was complete inflammatory resolution within a week, normal vision and no evidence of stinger migration after four weeks of follow up. The wound site healed with ciliary staphyloma. The role of physical properties, immunological and genetics interplay and the presumed pathogenesis is further discussed. Health education on early presentation and avoidance of harmful traditional eye medications should be promoted among the farming populations in our communities, in order to prevent blinding complications Key words: Sclera bee sting, features, treatment, outcome, presumed pathogenesi

Hospitalised ocular injuries in Osogbo, Nigeria

AIM: To describe the epidemiology and outcome of ocular injuries requiring hospital admission in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital(LTH), Osogbo, Nigeria.<p>METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all patients hospitalized for ocular injuries at LTH, Osogbo between April 2002 and March 2014 was undertaken. Information extracted from patients records were entered into a pre-designed form. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS)version 20. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess effects of different variables on the visual outcome of ocular injuries after treatment among the subjects. <i>P</i><0.05 was used as test of statistical significance.<p>RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients were hospitalized at LTH within the study period. The median age was 22.0y(range: 0.5-70.0)and male: female ratio 2.6:1. Majority of the injuries(35.2%)occurred within the home setting. Of the 127 patients, 74(58.3%)had open globe Injuries(OGI), 34(26.8%)had closed globe injuries(CGI), 7(5.5%)had adnexal injuries, 6(4.7%)had ruptured globes, 4(3.1%)had chemical injuries, 1(0.8%)patient each had retained intraocular foreign body and thermal eye injury. Two-thirds of patients managed for ocular injuries in this series had poor visual outcome. There were statistically significant associations between poor initial visual acuity(OR=13.24)and OGI with poor visual outcome(OR=9.16).<p>CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for health education and, to put in place preventive strategies for ocular injuries. Developing countries need to build up capacity to offer complex anterior and posterior segment surgeries for those with severely injured eyes so as to improve the visual outcomes