Non-traumatic ocular findings in industrial technical workers in Delta State; Nigeria

Purpose: To determine the pattern of non-traumatic ocular disorders in industrial technical workers in the Delta state; Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the pattern of non-traumatic ocular disorders among industrial technical workers in 3 factories in Ughelli North local Government Area of Delta state; Nigeria was conducted between February; 2002 and May; 2002. In addition to the demographic; the workers were studied for the presence of any non-trauma related ocular findings. Visual acuity of these workers was obtained as well as ocular examination was performed by using the Snellen's chart; pen torch; ophthalmoscope; Perkins hand-held tonometer; Ishihara plates. Patients were refracted if their visual acuity was less than normal. Results: Five hundred technical workers were screened that included 200 (40) from the construction industry; 180 (36) from the rubber factory and 120(24) from the oil mill. All the workers studied were males. Ocular disorders were seen in 664 (66.4) of the eyes. The most common ocular disorders were pingueculum 215 (21.5); presbyopia 97 (9.7); refractive error 94 (9.4); pterygium 86 (8.6) and chronic conjunctivitis 45 (4.5). None of the workers was blind from non-traumatic causes. Only 36 (7.2) workers wore any protective eye devices at work. Conclusion: Non-traumatic ocular disorders are common in the industrialized technical workers in the Delta state of Nigeria. The use of protective eye devices is low in these workers and suggests that measures to implement ocular safety should be undertaken in these industries

Pattern of eye diseases in Nigerian children seen at Lagos University Teaching Hospital : a decade after

Analysis of 1;000 new paediatric eye patients over a one year period showed that conjunctival diseases were the commonest as opposed to refractive error found a decade ago. More cases of eye injuries; neuro-ophthalmological conditions; squints and congenital abnormalities were also encountered. Females attend hospital more readily than males constituting 50.9 per cent and 29.8 per cent of new patients seen were children 16 years and below. Uveitis and chronic open angle glaucoma were uncommon compared to adult patients. Trachoma was not found in this environment as opposed to Nothern Nigeria. Some of these eye diseases cause blindness which can be prevented if suggested steps are taken. The demand on specialist services could be reduced if eye care delivery is incorporated into primary health care programme