Gender and Age Related Variation in Cornea Power

Objective: To determine the mean cornea power for this population and how it varies with gender and age.Design: A retrospective study.Setting: The eye clinic of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.Subjects: All patients referred to the Optometric unit by the duty optometrist using a Carl Zeiss 599 Auto-refractokeratometer and the findings recorded in a register designed for that purpose. These patients had previously undergone full ocular examination by the referring Ophthalmologist.Statistical Analysis: Data collected were analysed using the statistical package of social scientist (SPSS) version 16.Results: Two hundred and one patients (402 eyes) were analysed in this study. They consisted of 100 males and 101 females (M/F = 1:1.01). Their ages ranged from 8 to 84 years with a mean of 42.74 years (SD ± 14.62). The mean cornea power in the entire population was found to be 43.24 D (95% Cl 43.01 – 43.41). The horizontal cornea meridian has a higher diopteric power than the vertical meridian (43.38 D versus 43.13). The mean cornea power in females is greater than the mean cornea power inmales (43.62 D versus 42.80 D). Cornea power was found to vary with age (P = 0.003), and the relationship was found to be linear on regression analysis.Conclusion: The diopteric power of the female cornea is higher than that of their male counterpart. There is evidence that suggests a reduction of the diopteric power of the cornea with aging, but further studies are needed to confirm this observation

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

Blindness Caused by Pterygium – A Case Report

Pterygium leading to bilateral blindness and forcing patient to quit job is uncommon. This is a case report of a 46 year old indigent woman who had blinding pterygia over 10 years. She could not afford pterygium excision offered in a private eye clinic where she initially presented after a period of unsuccessful self medication. She was forced out of sewing job consequent to her inability to thread needle, difficulty reading number on the tape rule and difficulty recognising faces of her clients. Six years later, she presented at eye clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria with advanced bilateral pterygia. Having defaulted from clinic over 4 months for lack of fund, the patient, after concession, had successful bilateral pterygia excision using bare sclera technique with Mitomycin C (MMC) dab. There was restoration of the lost vision. Pterygium is a cause of avoidable blindness with consequential impact on quality of life. Eye care providers should identify individual patient challenges to reduce avoidable blindness. Keywords: Avoidable blindness, Patient challenges, Pterygium, Quality of lif

Surgical removal of eyes in a tertiary institution in North eastern Nigeria

Background Surgical eye removal is performed for various end-stage eye diseases to provide adequate comfort, replace volume and give good functional and cosmetic appearance. The pattern of eye removal is unknown for North Eastern Nigeria. Objective To determine the indications for eye removal in the study community. Method Records of all the patients whose eyes were removed between January 2002 and December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Age, sex, diagnosis and type of surgery were recorded. Results A total of 67 eyes were removed during the period consisting of 46 males (68.7%). Mean age was 29.5 years (range 4 months to 90 years). Indications for surgery were trauma, 26 (38.8%), infection, 21 (31.3%), anterior staphyloma, 14 (20.9%), tumor 4, (6.0%) and painful blind eye, 2 (3.0%). Evisceration was performed in 55 (82.1%), enucleation, 11 (16.4%) and exenteration, 1 (1.5%) patient. In children (n = 28), the indications were trauma and anterior staphyloma in 10 patients (35.7%) each, tumor in 4 (14.3%), infection in 3 (10.7%) and painful blind eye (mooren's ulcer) in 1 (3.6%) of the children respectively. In adults (n = 39), indications were infections, 18 (46.2%), trauma, 16 (41.0%), anterior staphyloma, 4 (10.3%) and painful blind eye due to advanced glaucoma, 1 (2.6%). Conclusion Trauma, infections, and anterior staphyloma were the major indications for eye removal. Most of the indications were avoidable

Safety and effectiveness of primary transscleral diode laser cyclophotoablation for glaucoma in Nigeria.

IMPORTANCE: To investigate the safety, effectiveness and follow-up rates after transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation as primary treatment for seeing eyes with primary open angle glaucoma in Bauchi, Nigeria. BACKGROUND: There is a high prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma in Africa where adherence to medical treatment and acceptance of surgery are poor. DESIGN: Prospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: New glaucoma patients where surgical intervention was recommended. METHODS: A diode 810 nm laser G-probe was used under retrobulbar anaesthesia to deliver approximately 20 shots for 2000 ms, titrating the power. If both eyes were treated the first was the study eye. Repeat treatment offered if the intraocular pressure (IOP) was >21 mmHg on two consecutive visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: IOP < 22 mmHg, change in ≥2 lines of Snellen visual acuity (VA), and complications. RESULTS: 201 out of 204 eyes with complete data analysed. Mean age 52 years, 17 (8.3%) eyes were re-treated. Mean pre-treatment IOP was 39 (SD 11) mmHg. 106 (53%) attended at 12 months when the mean IOP was 19 (7-45) mmHg; 77 (73%) had IOP < 22 mmHg. VAs were better in 13 (12.3%) and worse in 23 (21.7%) eyes. Postoperative complications included mild uveitis (5.5%), corneal oedema (2.5%), severe uveitis (0.5%) and transient hypotony (2.0%). No hypotony at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation controlled IOP in almost three quarters of eyes at 12 months with short-term preservation of vision and minimal complications. Poor follow-up in this setting highlights the need for an effective, safe and acceptable treatment where regular follow-up is less critical

Peer-to-Peer Local Energy Market: Opportunities, Barriers, Security, and Implementation Options

The concept of the peer-to-peer local energy market (P2P LEM) is no longer novel to the energy community. Yet, its large-scale implementation within the current electricity network remains a complex challenge. One key reason is the lack of understanding of the supplier licensing models in different countries. For instance, in the UK, up to year 2023, a consumer is only allowed to have a single supplier at a time under its single licence supplier model. This directly contradicts the existing P2P trading models that allow a consumer to purchase electricity from multiple sellers within the local market. Given this context, this article conducts a review of recent literature and government policies in different countries on the P2P LEM and identifies the barriers behind the lack of large-scale P2P trading implementation in today's electricity markets. We explain how these barriers can be overcome by engaging prosumers in traditional and private distribution networks through either licensed or license-exempt suppliers. Particularly, we discuss six P2P LEM frameworks that can be utilised to address the supplier licensing issue. Finally, this review presents a summary of risks, and recommendations to aid the regulatory framework to implement P2P LEM

Ophthalmia Neonatorum In Kaduna: A case-control study

Objective: To study the clinical pattern of ophthalmia neonatorum with the aim of identifying its risk factors. Method: A case-control study of ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) was carried out in 5 hospitals in Kaduna metropolis in northern Nigeria. Two hundred cases were matched with two hundred controls. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1. The mean age of the patients was 8.9 days, and the range was from birth to 28 days. Results: The age at the onset of the symptoms was birth to 27 days with a mean of 3.9 days. Most (74%) of the conjunctivitis cases were mild, while 26% were moderate or severe. Out of the 7 risk factors for ON assessed namely, maternal vaginal discharge during pregnancy, prolonged labour, place of delivery, maternal social status, prolonged rupture of the amniotic membrane, instrumental delivery, and maternal marital status, only 3 – maternal vaginal discharge, prolonged rupture of the amniotic membrane and place of delivery (in hospital) – were found to be statistically significant. The mothers of 63 of the cases had vaginal discharge during pregnancy as against 31 (15.5%) of the mothers in the control group (P < 0.01). Prolonged rupture of the amniotic membrane occurred in 24 (12%) of the cases and in 5 (2.5%) of the control group (P < 0.05). Sixty-nine (34.5%) of the cases were delivered at home while 98 (49%) of the control group were delivered at home (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The risk factors that contributed to the development of the disease were found to be mainly maternal vaginal discharge during pregnancy, place of delivery, and prolonged rupture of the amniotic membrane. Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 11(2) 2003:63-6

Assessment of pain perception during ophthalmic surgical procedures

No Abstract.Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 15 (2) 2008: pp. 11-1

Intracapsular cataract extraction with anterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in a developing country

Aim: To assess the visual outcome of cataract extraction with ACIOL implantation in a Nigerian hospital. Methods: The visual outcome of 50 eyes of 42 patients aged 40 years and above, out of 212 eyes that underwent intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) and anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOL) implantation, were reviewed retrospectively. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 2 years. The operation was carried out with a loupe and standard IOL (multiflex open loop ACIOLs of 19.00 DS). Result: Good visual outcome of 6/6 to 6/18 was recorded in 27 (54%) eyes and 6/24 to 6/60 was recorded in 14 (28%) eyes. Poor visual outcome o