Okoye O I, Umeh R E
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine University of Nigeria, Enugu.
West Afr J Med. 2002 Apr-Jun;21(2):132-7.
A cross-sectional ophthalmological survey to determine the ocular health in Nigerian industries was undertaken in four randomly selected industrial establishments in Enugu State of Nigeria. The industrial establishments studied were the cement factory, coal mine, saw mill and iron/steel works where motor spare parts are fabricated. Of the 646 workers, 184 (28.5%) had a history of industrial accidents, 81 (12.5%) of which affected the eye. Eye injury was most commonly caused by metal chips, cement dust, fragments of wood, pieces of coal stone and welders' arc rays all of which could be prevented by wearing appropriate protective eye coverings. Contusion injury was the most common type of injury reported. Eye accident rate varied from factory to factory as also did the wearing of protective eye devices. overall, the percentage of workers using protective eye cover was 16.7% but there was a significant difference between the factories in this respect, protective eye wear being more often used in factories with higher eye accident rates. A total of 646 technical workers had detailed ophthalmological examination. The types and frequencies ofvisual disorders seen as well as the nature and causes of eye injuries were determined. Five hundred and twenty-eight workers (81.7%) had eye disorders. Presbyopla was responsible for 203 (31.4%) of these disorders while 169 (26.2%) were refractive errors. Of the others, pterygium and pingueculum together numbered 179 (27.7%) while cataract was found in 79 (12.2%) subjects. The results showed a high frequency of eye injuries among industrial workers and a low level of use of protective eye cover while at work. It is recommended that legislation requiring the use of protective devices in high-risk industries should be vigorously enforced to improve the eye health of Nigerian industrial workers.
在尼日利亚埃努古州随机挑选了四个工业企业，开展了一项横断面眼科调查，以确定尼日利亚各行业工人的眼部健康状况。所研究的工业企业包括水泥厂、煤矿、锯木厂以及制造汽车零部件的钢铁厂。在646名工人中，有184人（28.5%）有工业事故史，其中81人（12.5%）眼部受到影响。眼外伤最常见的原因是金属碎屑、水泥粉尘、木屑、煤矸石碎片和焊工电弧光，而佩戴合适的护目镜均可预防这些情况。挫伤是报告中最常见的损伤类型。眼外伤发生率因工厂而异，佩戴防护眼具的情况也各不相同。总体而言，使用护目镜的工人比例为16.7%，但各工厂在这方面存在显著差异，眼外伤发生率较高的工厂更常使用护目镜。共有646名技术工人接受了详细的眼科检查。确定了所发现的视觉障碍类型和频率，以及眼外伤的性质和原因。528名工人（81.7%）有眼部疾病。其中，老花眼占这些疾病的203例（31.4%），屈光不正占169例（26.2%）。其他方面，翼状胬肉和睑裂斑共计179例（27.7%），79名（12.2%）受试者患有白内障。结果显示，产业工人眼外伤发生率很高，工作时护目镜的使用率很低。建议大力执行要求在高风险行业使用防护设备的立法，以改善尼日利亚产业工人的眼部健康。
