Olatunji F O, Kirupananthan S, Ayanniyi A A, Abuh S
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ilorin teaching hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Afr J Med Med Sci. 2009 Mar;38(1):29-32.
The study aimed at identifying the causes of childhood blindness at ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano. The causes of visual loss in 31 consecutive patients aged < or = 16 years who attended the ECWA eye Hospital between 1993 and 1996, who had vision of < 3/60 in the better eye were recorded. The eyes were examined with a slit lamp or flashlight a loupe, and an ophthalmoscope. The intraocular pressure was taken with either a Schiotz or an applanation tonometer. There were 14 males (45.0%), the mean age was 6 years; range: 1 to 15 years. Corneal causes were responsible for blindness in 54.8%. Measles was responsible for 10 cases; neonatal infection was responsible in 2 cases. Four cases were due to lens lesions. By aetiologic category, childhood factors accounted for (32.3%). The causes in 51.7% were not known. Hereditary factors and perinatal factor accounted for 6.4% cases each. Intrauterine factors were responsible for 1 case. Eighteen (58.6%) of the cases were due to avoidable causes; 12(38.4%) being preventable and 6(19.2%) treatable. The causes of childhood blindness in this study are consistent with those of low economic region with high prevalence of avoidable blindness.
