Incidence and Risk Factors for Traditional Eye Medicine Use among Patients at a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Nigeria

Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors for traditional eye medicine use among patients at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha; Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Consecutive new adult ophthalmic patients seen at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha between January and April 2007 were interviewed on the use of traditional eye medicines and the type of traditional eye medicine used. Results: Of the 500 patients interviewed; 66 (13.2) had used traditional eye medicines (TEM). The 66 patients; aged 18-84; were made up of 32 males and 34 females. The commonly used TEM were liquid from plant leaves and roots and other concoctions of unknown origin. Conjunctivitis and cataract constituted 54.5of the ocular problems; 15(22.7) patients had visual impairment while 5(7.6) other patients were blind. Risk factors for TEM use include age above 50 years (P0.001); residence outside Onitsha metropolis (P0.001) or 0.05); chronic nature (P0.05) or painfulness of the ocular disease (P0.05). Conclusions: Traditional eye medicine is highly patronized by the people. Health education programmes with emphasis on safe eye care practices need be intensified in traditional healers and among the groups at risk

Retractive erros in school children in Onithsa; Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the incidence and pattern of ametropia among school children.Materials and Methods: Consecutive shcool children presenting at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha between September 2001 and August 2002 with visual acuity of 6/9 or worse in at least one eye; complaints of visual blurring; eye strain; brow ache and or discomfort while reading were recruited into the study. Cycloplegic refraction on each child was performed using 0.5tropicamide eye-drops. Post-cycloplegic tests were performed within 72 hours.Results: Of the 306 children (M:F - 1:2) examined; 301 (98.4) had ametropia. Spherical errors were namely; hyperopia 23 (7.5); myopia 47 (15.4). Astigmatism occurred in 231 (75.5) namely hyperopic astigmatism 72 (31.2); myopic astigmatism 159 (68.8). Anisometropia was present in 80 (26.1) children; 16 of whom did not improve with refraction. Generally older children (12 - 17 years) were more likely to have refractive errors than younger children (95CI: 0.07; 0.31; p 0.005). But there was no difference in the incidence of myopia between younger children (aged 6 - 11 years) and older children (95CI: -0.08; 0.43; p 0.05). While 41 (13.4) had visual impairment in the better eye; 8 (2.6) other children had uniocular blindness at presentation.Conclusions: There is a high incidence of uncorrected refractive errors among school children; although many were of small degrees. The cooperation of parents and teachers is vital in identifying and treating this modifiable cause of poor academic performance and learning difficulties

Refractive Errors in School Children in Onitsha; Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the incidence and pattern of ametropia among school children. Materials and Methods : Consecutive school children presenting at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha between September 2001 and August 2002 with visual acuity of 6/9 or worse in at least one eye; complaints of visual blurring; eye strain; brow ache and or discomfort while reading were recruited into the study. Cycloplegic refraction on each child was performed using 0.5) namely hyperopic astigmatism 72 (31.2 tropicamide eye-drops. Post-cycloplegic tests were performed within 72 hours. Results: Of the 306 children (M:F - 1:2) examined; 301 (98.4) had ametropia. Spherical errors were namely; hyperopia 23 (7.5); myopia 47 (15.4). Astigmatism occurred in 231 (75.5); myopic astigmatism 159 (68.8). Anisometropia was present in 80 (26.1) children; 16 of whom did not improve with refraction. Generally older children (12 - 17 years) were more likely to have refractive errors than younger children (95CI: 0.07; 0.31; p 0.005). But there was no difference in the incidence of myopia between younger children (aged 6 - 11 years) and older children (95CI: -0.08; 0.43; p 0.05). While 41 (13.4) had visual impairment in the better eye; 8 (2.6) other children had uniocular blindness at presentation. Conclusions: There is a high incidence of uncorrected refractive errors among school children; although many were of small degrees. The cooperation of parents and teachers is vital in identifying and treating this modifiable cause of poor academic performance and learning difficulties