Ocular fireworks injuries in Eastern Nigeria: a 3-year review

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and types of ocular injuries caused by fireworks in patients seen at Guinness Eye Centre Onitsha and their effects on vision. Methods: This was a 3-year retrospective study evaluating case files of patients with ocular fireworks injuries seen at Guinness Eye Centre Onitsha during the Christmas and New Year festivities (2010­2012). Information was extracted into a pro forma and analyzed using Excel, AutoSum, and calculators. Results: Subconjunctival hemorrhage, corneal lacerations, and hyphema were the most common injuries seen. Patients had multiple ocular pathologies, and the left eye was affected in 62.5% of cases. Bystanders accounted for 75% of those with ocular fireworks injuries. All were males. Half of the affected eyes went blind. Conclusion: Fireworks injuries constituted only 5.1%, 0%, and 10% of ocular injuries in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively, with devastating consequence of blindness in 50% of affected eyes

The state of peadiatric eye care in Nigeria: a situational review and call for action

The fight against childhood blindness is being given top priority by the World Health Organization especially in regions of the world; like Nigeria where the gross income per capita is relatively low with up to 60.9 of them living in absolute poverty as at 2010. Avoidable causes of blindness in children needs to be eliminated through the development of sustainable and equitably distributed high quality children eye care services as part of our national health care system. However enough attention has not been given to achieve this yet. The purpose of this editorial is to highlight the challenges in childhood eye care in this country as well as discuss ways the current negative trend can be reversed