Pattern of Corneal Opacity in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: The prevalence and causes of corneal blindness vary from one region of the world to another. There is even variation within the developing countries of Africa. Method: A retrospective review of 675 patients with corneal scarring out of the 3,753 new patients corneal scarring in patients attending the eye clinic of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan over a 5year period. Results: Subjects in age groups 0 to 10years and 21 to 30years were mostly affected. Males were more affected with a ratio of 3:1. Most presentations were in the months of January to March and July to September. Almost half (48.99%) of the patients had uniocular blindness and no case of bilateral blindness from corneal opacity was found. The main causes of corneal opacity were trauma (51.1%) and microbial keratitis (26.70%) both of which are avoidable causes of blindness. No case of trachomatous corneal scarring was found in the group studied. Conclusion

Crystalline Maculopathy: A Report of Two Patients in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

We present two patients with crystalline maculopathy seen at the Eye Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Both patients had diabetes, with the first patient having systemic hypertension controlled on medications. There was no history of kola nut ingestion in the two patients. Medical examination by the internist revealed no other systemic disease. The central vision was good in both patients. Optical coherence tomography localized the crystals to the inner retina, and there was no associated macular edema. Some pathogenetic mechanisms are proffered based on available literature

Prevalence and Causes of Eye Diseases amongst Students in South-Western Nigeria

Background/Purpose: To assess the prevalence and identify the causes of eye diseases among students in Ilesa east local government area, in south-western Nigeria, so that prevention strategies could be mapped out. Methods: A cross-sectional survey that utilised a multi-stage random sampling method to select 1144 primary and secondary students comprising 504 males and 640 females. Their ages ranged from 4 to 24 years. Majority (97.8%) were below 18 years of age. Results: A total of 177 (15.5%) of the school children were found to have eye diseases. These included conjunctival diseases (8%) constituted mainly by allergic/vernal conjunctivitis (7.4%), refractive error (5.8%), lid disorders (0.6%), squint (0.3%), corneal scarring (0.3%) and cataract (0.2%). Conclusion: Eye diseases are common amongst school children. Health education will go a long way in the prevention of ocular diseases amongst school children. Wearing of corrective glasses should be emphasised for children with refractive error. Eye examination for all new intakes into both public and private primary and secondary schools is advocated. This will allow for early detection and prompt treatment of eye diseases in the young, which will go a long way in reducing ocular morbidity and unnecessary blindness.Introduction/Objectif : Evaluer la fr\ue9quence et identifier les causes des maladies de l'oeil parmi des \ue9tudiants dans la zone gouvernmentale locale, l'Est d'Ilesa, dans le sud-ouest du Nig\ue9ria, pour pouvoir \ue9laborer des strat\ue9gies de pr\ue9vention. M\ue9thode : Une \ue9tude d'un groupe repr\ue9sentatif de la population \ue0 travers l'utilisation d'une m\ue9thode d'\ue9chantillonage au hasard afin de choisir 1144 \ue9l\ue8ves primaires et \ue9tudiants des \ue9coles secondaires y compris 504 du sexe masculin et 640 du sexe f\ue9minin. Leur tranche d'\ue2ge de 4 au 24 ans. Majorit\ue9 97,8% \ue9taient moins de 18 ans. R\ue9sultats : Un total de 177 soit 15,5% des \ue9l\ue8ves sont not\ue9s d'avoir des maladies des yeux. A savoir ; maladies conjunctivites, 7,4%, erreur de r\ue9fraction 5,8%, troubles paupi\ue8re 0,6%, yeux louches 0,3% scarring de la corn\ue9e 0,3% et la cataracte 0.2%. Conclusion: Maladies des yeux sont ordinaires parmi des \ue9l\ue8ves, enseignement m\ue9dical va aider la pr\ue9vention des maladies oculaire parmi des \ue9l\ue8ves. On doit mettre l'accent sur le fait de porter des lunettes corrective pour des enfants avec des erreurs de r\ue9fraction. L'examen des yeux pour tous les \ue9l\ue8ves qui commencent des \ue9tudes dans des \ue9coles publiques primaire et secondaire est conseill\ue9. Ceci va permettre une d\ue9tection pr\ue9coce et traitement urgent des cas des maladies des yeux chez des jeunes, ce qui va reduire la morbidit\ue9 oculaire et une c\ue9cit\ue9 \ue9vitable

Objectively measured physical activity and cardiac biomarkers: A cross sectional population based study in older men.

BACKGROUND: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity Troponin T (hsTnT) are markers of cardiac injury used in diagnosis of heart failure and myocardial infarction respectively, and associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Since physical activity is protective against cardiovascular disease and heart failure, we investigated whether higher levels of physical activity, and less sedentary behaviour were associated with lower NT-proBNP and hsTnT. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cross sectional study of 1130 men, age 70-91years, from the British Regional Heart Study, measured in 2010-2012. Fasting blood samples were analysed for NT-proBNP and hsTnT. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured using ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Relationships between activity and NT-proBNP or hsTnT were non-linear; biomarker levels were lower with higher total activity, steps, moderate/vigorous activity and light activity only at low to moderate levels of activity. For example, for each additional 10min of moderate/vigorous activity, NT-proBNP was lower by 35.7% (95% CI -47.9, -23.6) and hsTnT by 8.4% (95% CI -11.1, -5.6), in men who undertook <25 or 50min of moderate/vigorous activity per day respectively. Biomarker levels increased linearly with increasing sedentary behaviour, but not independently of moderate/vigorous activity. CONCLUSION: Associations between biomarkers and moderate/vigorous activity (and between hsTnT and light activity) were independent of sedentary behaviour, suggesting activity is driving the relationships. In these older men with concomitantly low levels of physical activity, activity may be more important in protecting against cardiac health deterioration in less active individuals, although reverse causality might be operating

Strengthening retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment services in Nigeria: a case study of activities, challenges and outcomes 2017-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria. DESIGN: Descriptive case study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care units in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Staff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was used to collect service data from WhatsApp group members for 2017-2018 and to assess challenges in service provision. RESULTS: In 2017 only six of the 84 public neonatal units in Nigeria provided ROP services; this number had increased to 20 by 2018. Of the 723 babies screened in 10 units over a year, 127 (17.6%) developed any ROP; and 29 (22.8%) developed type 1 ROP. Only 13 (44.8%) babies were treated, most by intravitreal bevacizumab. The screening criteria were revised in 2020. Challenges included lack of equipment to regulate oxygen and to document and treat ROP, and lack of data systems. CONCLUSION: ROP screening coverage and quality improved after national and international collaborative efforts. To scale up and improve services, equipment for neonatal care and ROP treatment is urgently needed, as well as systems to monitor data. Ongoing advocacy is also essential

Letter to Editor

Barriers to Setting up a Vitreo‑retinal Unit of Ophthalmology in Ibadan, Sub‑Sahara Afric

Prevalence and Causes of Eye Diseases amongst Students in South-Western Nigeria

Background/Purpose: To assess the prevalence and identify the causes of eye diseases among students in Ilesa east local government area, in south-western Nigeria, so that prevention strategies could be mapped out. Methods: A cross-sectional survey that utilised a multi-stage random sampling method to select 1144 primary and secondary students comprising 504 males and 640 females. Their ages ranged from 4 to 24 years. Majority (97.8%) were below 18 years of age. Results: A total of 177 (15.5%) of the school children were found to have eye diseases. These included conjunctival diseases (8%) constituted mainly by allergic/vernal conjunctivitis (7.4%), refractive error (5.8%), lid disorders (0.6%), squint (0.3%), corneal scarring (0.3%) and cataract (0.2%). Conclusion: Eye diseases are common amongst school children. Health education will go a long way in the prevention of ocular diseases amongst school children. Wearing of corrective glasses should be emphasised for children with refractive error. Eye examination for all new intakes into both public and private primary and secondary schools is advocated. This will allow for early detection and prompt treatment of eye diseases in the young, which will go a long way in reducing ocular morbidity and unnecessary blindness.Introduction/Objectif : Evaluer la fréquence et identifier les causes des maladies de l&apos;oeil parmi des étudiants dans la zone gouvernmentale locale, l&apos;Est d&apos;Ilesa, dans le sud-ouest du Nigéria, pour pouvoir élaborer des stratégies de prévention. Méthode : Une étude d&apos;un groupe représentatif de la population à travers l&apos;utilisation d&apos;une méthode d&apos;échantillonage au hasard afin de choisir 1144 élèves primaires et étudiants des écoles secondaires y compris 504 du sexe masculin et 640 du sexe féminin. Leur tranche d&apos;âge de 4 au 24 ans. Majorité 97,8% étaient moins de 18 ans. Résultats : Un total de 177 soit 15,5% des élèves sont notés d&apos;avoir des maladies des yeux. A savoir ; maladies conjunctivites, 7,4%, erreur de réfraction 5,8%, troubles paupière 0,6%, yeux louches 0,3% scarring de la cornée 0,3% et la cataracte 0.2%. Conclusion: Maladies des yeux sont ordinaires parmi des élèves, enseignement médical va aider la prévention des maladies oculaire parmi des élèves. On doit mettre l&apos;accent sur le fait de porter des lunettes corrective pour des enfants avec des erreurs de réfraction. L&apos;examen des yeux pour tous les élèves qui commencent des études dans des écoles publiques primaire et secondaire est conseillé. Ceci va permettre une détection précoce et traitement urgent des cas des maladies des yeux chez des jeunes, ce qui va reduire la morbidité oculaire et une cécité évitable