Prevalence and causes of blindness in Otibhor Okhae Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

PURPOSE: This hospital-based retrospective study was aimed at providing baseline information on the causes of blindness in the locality. METHODS: The case notes of all new patients attending the Eye Clinic of Otibhor Okhae Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, over a six-year period (January 1995-December 2000) were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Over 6% (555) of new patients seen during this period were uniocularly blind while 3.9% (354) were binocularly blind. The leading causes of uniocular blindness were cataract, open-angle glaucoma and corneal ulceration/leucoma. Binocular blindness was mainly due to cataract, open-angle glaucoma and aphakia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of blindness in the study population is high. Cataract, as the main cause of blindness, will require surgical relief, either in the teaching hospital or preferably in the patient's locality. Appropriate interventions need to be evolved (in the form of either mobile clinics or a series of surgical eye camps) to stem the present trend toward high prevalence of avoidable blindness. Prevention of ocular trauma is an essential factor in the reduction of blindness in children. Health education and bringing ophthalmological care to the doorstep of underprivileged rural dwellers will improve their level of awareness.