Causes of Blindness and Career Choice among Pupils in a Blind School; South Western Nigeria

Background: The causes of Blindness vary from place to place with about 80 of it been avoidable. Furthermore Blind people face a lot of challenges in career choice thus limiting their economic potential and full integration into the society. This study aims at identifying the causes of blindness and career choice among pupils in a school for the blind in South -Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study of causes of blindness and career choice among 38 pupils residing in a school for the blind at Ikere -Ekiti; South Western Nigeria. Results: Thirty eight pupils comprising of 25 males (65.8) and 13 females (34.2) with age range from 6-39 years were seen for the study; The commonest cause of blindness was cataract with 14 cases (36.84) while congenital glaucoma and infection had an equal proportion of 5 cases each (13.16). Avoidable causes constituted the greatest proportion of the causes 27 (71.05) while unavoidable causes accounted for 11 (28.9). The law career was the most desired profession by the pupils 11 (33.3) followed by Teaching 9 (27.3); other desired profession includes engineering; journalism and farming. Conclusion: The greatest proportion of causes of blindness identified in this study is avoidable. There is the need to create public awareness on some of the notable causes particularly cataract and motivate the community to utilize available eye care services Furthermore there is need for career talk in schools for the blind to enable them choose career where their potential can be fully maximized

Uniocular Blindness among Children in the Gambia

Background: Uniocular blindness in children though not uncommon has not been given prominence; as emphasis is placed on binocular blindness.Aim: To determine the common causes of uniocular blindness in children; and to suggest strategies for prevention.Methods: A prospective study involving children seen at the Eye Clinic of the Royal Victoria Hospital; The Gambia was undertaken; from the 1st December 1999 to 30th June 2000. All newly diagnosed cases of children who attended the clinic and were blind in one eye during the period of the study were included. A history was taken; visualacuity using age specific methods and ocular examinations were carried out. When necessary an examination under anaesthesia was performed.Results: Out of 470 children; 45(10) had uniocular blindness; 39(86) were aged 6-15years. The male - female ratio was 4:1. Common causes were trauma 28(62); uveitis 4(9); and corneal ulcer 3(7) . Others included congenital cataract; glaucoma and retinoblastoma.Conclusion: The commonest cause of uniocular blindness was ocular trauma. Focus should be directed towards the prevention; early referral and appropriate treatment of ocular trauma in children. Strategies for the prevention of childhood blindness would also be applicable to uniocular blindness in The Gambia

Prevention de la cecite chez l'enfant : une methodologie d'evacuation simplifiee

Parmi les causes de cecite rencontrees dans les pays en developpement et precisement au Mali; la xerophtalmie et le trachome affectent plus particulierement les enfants. Leur prise en charge; sur le plan de la sante publique; necessite non seulement la connaissance de la situation epidemiologique initiale; mais aussi celle de son evolution sous l'effet des mesures prises. Ceci implique l'utilisation de methodes d'evacuation qui soient non seulement fiables; mais aussi suffisamment simples et peu couteuses pour pouvoir etre utilisees aussi souvent qu'il faut

Raised intracranial pressure and visual complications in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis

The clinical course of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS shows some important differences from the features of the illness in non-AIDS patients. Complications such as raised intracranial pressure and visual impairment that are recognised in non-AIDS patients may be less frequent in those with AIDS. Persistent intracranial hypertension should be managed actively to prevent visual impairment. In AIDS patients; in whom ventriculo-peritoneal shunts carry additional risks; acetazolamide can be used successfully to lower the CSF pressure and prevent visual loss

Prevalence and causes of blindness in the Congo

A population-based survey on the prevalence of blindness and eye disease has been conducted throughout the Congo. This was the first time such a survey had been carried out in a central African country with an equatorial climate. In comparison with data available from other African countries, the two rather unexpected characteristics resulting from the survey were lower blindness prevalence rates and the extremely rare cases of bilateral corneal scarring. In accordance with sampling procedures recommended by the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness, 7041 people were selected and examined. The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye) was 0.3% (5700 people). The prevalence of low vision (visual acuity between 6/24 and 3/60 in the better eye) was 2.1% (40,000 people). The major causes of blindness and low vision were cataract (81% and 80%, respectively) and glaucoma (9% and 3.4%, respectively). A total of 22,000 people in the Congo require cataract surgery. Almost four-fifths of the current burden of blindness in this country is potentially curable through the provision of cataract surgery and aphakic glasses