ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the contribution of corneal blindness to visual disability among Blind Street Beggars (bsb) with a view to draw the implications to blindness prevention programme in Sokoto North Local government area (LGA) . Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in Sokoto North Local LGA in Sokoto State. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks between May and June; 2009. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Committee of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The list of blind persons in these areas was obtained from the traditional head of the blind (Sarkin Makafi) who assisted in mobilizing the subjects. Blind subjects who consented were included in the study. Data obtained were entered and analyzed in form of frequency tables using Epi-info 2000 statistical software package . Results: A total of 202 of the registered persons were found to be blind on ophthalmic examination and were therefore included in the analysis. There were 107 (53) males and 95 (47) females with a mean age of 49 years. One hundred and sixty four (81.2) blind beggars became blind during childhood period while 38 subjects (18.8) became blind during adulthood. Trachoma corneal opacity was responsible for 12.8 of the blindness while other corneal opacity accounted for 60.8. Conclusion: Majority of the subjects had preventable blindness. We recommend a comprehensive eye care programme with a strong emphasis on health education and prompt treatment of these causes as a means of reducing the population of street blind beggars in Sokoto North LGA
Subject(s)
Blindness , Corneal DiseasesABSTRACT
There are about 37 million blind people in the world. In Ethiopia there are 1.15 million blind people; corneal blindness accounted for 19of cases. The objective is to identify determinants and pattern of corneal blindness in Goro district; Gurage Zone in Southern Ethiopia. A cross sectional descriptive study and multistage sampling technique were used to identify the study units and subjects. The prevalence of blindness in the study area was 1.5and out of which corneal blindness accounted for 20.8of the blindness. Trachomal had caused 80of the corneal blindness. Determinants like application of herbal medicine; recurrent painful red eye or ocular trauma was not reported to cause bilateral corneal blindness. The prevalence of monocular blindness was 1.89. Corneal blindness accounted for 36.7of the cases. Trauma and trachoma were found in 31.6and 15.8of unilateral corneal blindness respectively. Trachoma is the leading cause of bilateral corneal blindness. Non trachomatous corneal opacity is the major cause of unilateral corneal blindness. Health education and training mid level health workers on the management of treatable and preventable cause of corneal blindness is highly recommended
Subject(s)
Blindness , Corneal Diseases , Corneal OpacityABSTRACT
An outline of a retrospective survey of patients with ocular trauma at UTH in 1988. Paper discuses corneal erosion as a major cause of ocular trauma in Zambia