Visual acuity status of primary school children in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria

Objective: To assess the visual acuity status of primary school children in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit participants for the study. Socio-demographic data and the ocular history of the pupils were collected using a structured pre-tested researcher administered questionnaire while the alphabet Snellen chart was used to measure their visual acuity. Data analysis was by SPSS version 16 statistical software. Results: A total of 126 school children made up of 56 (44.4%) males and 70 (55.6%) females participated in the study. Fifty (39.7%) had visual complaints made up of 22 (44.0%) pupils with poor distant vision, 20 (40.0%) with poor near vision and 8 (16.0%) with eye pain while reading. Half (50.0%) of the pupils have had visual symptoms in the past and a higher proportion 40 (63.5%) resulted from trauma to the eyes. Majority 103 (81.7%) of pupils had visual acuity of 6/6 or better. There was no statistically significant association between the age group (p = 0.942), sex (p = 0.674), positive family history of visual disorders (p = 0.167) and the visual acuity of the pupils. Conclusion: The prevalence of visual acuity < 6/6 was found to be high among public primary school children in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. There is need for a regular and periodic visual screening in primary schools

Ocular disorders in stroke patients in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: Stroke is a medical emergency of public health importance which affects the physical, mental, and emotional well‑being of its victims. Management and rehabilitation are cumbersome for patients and caregivers. Ocular involvement and visual loss could further increase the burden of care.Aim: To determine the prevalence of ocular disorders in patients with stroke in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A descriptive hospital‑based study was performed on all consenting and conscious adult patients aged 18 years and above with a diagnosis of stroke made within 1‑year who were admitted to the stroke ward or attended the stroke clinic of the Neurology Unit in the Department of Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City from October 2013 to December 2013.Results: A total of 170 eyes of 85 patients were studied with a mean age of 66.08 years ± 10.99; range 43–88 years. There was a male: female ratio of 2.6:1. Ocular abnormalities were documented in 95.5% of the patients. A presenting visual acuity of ≥6/18 was found in 66.7%. Mild ptosis and exotropia were seen in 2.9% and 0.6% of the eyes respectively. Intraocular pressure was between 10–21 mmHg in 87.7% eyes while 11.8% eyes had afferent pupillary defects. Cataract was seen in 71.8% eyes and optic nerve head changes in 48.8% eyes which includes temporal disc pallor and glaucomatous optic neuropathy in 29.4% and 14.2% eyes, respectively. Abnormalities found in the retina include retinal hemorrhages in 10.6% eyes, cotton wool spots in 2.4% eyes, and hard exudates in 7.8% eyes. Retinal vascular abnormalities were documented in 32.4% eyes. Visual complaints following stroke were documented in 9.6% of the patients.Conclusion: Ocular abnormalities are present in patients with stroke, mostly due to predisposing risk factors for stroke, and age‑related changes. Routine ophthalmic evaluation is suggested in the management of patients with cerebrovascular accident in our environment for better quality of care.Keywords: Cerebrovascular accident, ocular disorders, strok

Utilization of ocular safety devices among Sawmill workers in Nigeria

Objective: The study was carried out to assess the use of eye safety devices in sawmill workers in Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study of sawmill workers was carried out using pretested questionnaires. Ocular examination was done on site with a pen torch, portable hand-held slit lamp bio-microscope and direct ophthalmoscope. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 16) was used to analyze the data obtained; P&lt; 0.05 was taken as significant.Results: A total of 553 sawmill workers were studied of which 449 (81.2%) and 104 (18.8%) were technical and administrative sawmill workers respectively. There were 496 (89.7%) males and 57 (10.3%) females giving a male to female ratio of 8.7:1. The mean age and standard deviation was 38.9 years � 12.8. Secondary education was the most common level attained in 308 (55.7%) workers while the least number was in those without formal education 22 (4.0%). Seven (1.6%) of the 449 technical sawmill workers screened used protective eye device. Goggles 4 (57.0%) and sunglasses 3 (43.0%) were the protective eye device used. Monocular blindness arising from injury at work occurred in 5 (0.9%) workers. None of the administrative workers used protective eye devices. Non-availability of safety eye devices was the major reason attributed for not using the protective devices.Conclusion: There is need to safeguard the ocular health of sawmill workers in Nigeria by provision of eye safety devices, health education of the workers on the benefits of its use and enforcement of safety regulations