Etiology of visual impairment among ophthalmic patients at Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

The Nigeria national blindness survey has documented region-specific prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the country. However, there is need for local studies to ascertain specific causes of visual impairment peculiar to each community, as this varies from one locality to another.

AIM

To determine the causes of blindness and low vision among patients presenting to the Eye Clinic, Federal Medical Center Abeokuta, Nigeria.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of all patients seen at the Eye Clinic, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Nigeria between January 2011 and December 2012 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Out of the 5,352 patients managed during the period, 474 (8.9%) were blind, 3,178 (59.4%) had low vision while 1,700 (31.7%) had "normal vision". The risk of visual impairment increased with age. The major causes of blindness were cataract (32.5%), glaucoma (20%) and age-related macular degeneration (12.8%), while the most common causes of low vision were uncorrected refractive errors (20.5%), cataract (17.6%) and glaucoma (14.8%).

CONCLUSION

Cataract, glaucoma and uncorrected refractive errors are the leading causes of visual impairment in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Public enlightenment coupled with prompt and effective management will reduce the burden of blindness in the country.