Sokoto blind beggars: causes of blindness and barriers to rehabilitation services

To determine the causes of blindness and the barriers to accessing rehabilitation services [RS] among blind street beggars [bsb] in Sokoto, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 202 bsb [VA < 3/60] using interviewer administered questionnaire. The causes of blindness were diagnosed by clinical ophthalmic examination. There were 107 [53%] males and 95 [47%] females with a mean age of 49 years [SD 12.2]. Most bsb 191 [94.6%] had non-formal education. Of 190 [94.1%] irreversibly bsb, 180/190 [94.7%] had no light perception [NPL] bilaterally. The major causes of blindness were non-trachomatous corneal opacity [60.8%] and trachoma corneal opacity [12.8%]. There were 166 [82%] blind from avoidable causes and 190 [94.1%] were irreversibly blind with 76.1% due to avoidable causes. The available sub-standard RS were educational, vocational and financial support. The barriers to RS in the past included non-availability 151 [87.8%], inability to afford 2 [1.2%], unfelt need 4 [2.3%], family refusal 1 [0.6], ignorance 6 [3.5%] and being not linked 8 [4.7%]. The barriers to RS during the study period included inability of 72 subjects [35.6%] to access RS and 59 [81.9%] were due to lack of linkage to the existing services. Corneal opacification was the major cause of blindness among bsb. The main challenges to RS include the inadequate services available, societal and users factors. Renewed efforts are warranted toward the prevention of avoidable causes of blindness especially corneal opacities. The quality of life of the blind street beggar should be improved through available, accessible and affordable well-maintained and sustained rehabilitation services.

Uniocular Blindness Following Thermal Injury

A hot water burn is a thermal injury that results in cell death. Thermal eye injury triggers inflammatory processes, including inflammatory cell influx and/or the activation of various inflammatory cells, which result in the rapid accumulation of extravascular fluid in the ocular tissue. The ocular effect depends on the temperature of the water, and the final visual outcome depends on the severity of the damage to the intraocular structures. We report a 23-year-old woman who experienced a facial hot water burn that resulted in blindness. The patient presented late to the hospital after the unsuccessful use of traditional medication. Facial burns are a known cause of blindness. Public health education on prompt hospital presentation, and resistance to the use of potentially harmful traditional medicine in facial burns is suggested.

Ocular trauma in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

The aim of the study was to determine the patterns of ocular trauma I among patients presenting at the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. A 1-year retrospective review was undertaken of all patients presenting with ocular trauma to the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi. Ocular trauma was observed in 89 of 1800 [4.9%] patients I attending the eye clinic during the study period, with 65 [73%] being males and 46 [51.7%] being children aged 0-16 years. Of these 89 cases of trauma, I59 [663%] were caused by blunt and 30 [33.7%] by penetrating injuries, with a majority [61.8%] occurring in the home during weekdays. The greatest numbers of injuries were inflicted by sticks [25.8%] and stones [20.2%]. I Hie cornea was affected in 47.2% of cases. Prior to presentation, 79.8% of patients used eye drops purchased over the counter and 7% used a harmful / traditional eye medication. Sixty per cent presented 1 week after the trauma i took place. At presentation, 33.7% of patients were blind; causes of blindness erecorneal scarring [in 34.5% of blind patients], bullous keratopathy [in 1116%], corneal blood staining [in 10.3%], aphakia [in 6.9%] and retinal I tehment [in 20.7%]. Visual acuity at presentation [P=0.001] correlated with visual acuity at discharge, when the proportion of patients who were I id remained at 32.6% [P=0.002]. A relationship was found between age [P=0.017] and occupation [P=0.000] and the location in which leinjury occurred, but this was not so for sex [P=0.069]. No relationships we found between age [P=0.286], sex [P=0.502] or occupation H.637] and the causes of ocular trauma. Age [P=0.354] and sex N.511] showed no connection with the part of the eye affected; however, tee was an association between the site of the injury and the patient's Ration [P=0.001]. Ocular trauma remains a significant cause of preventable blindness in developing economies. Renewed efforts are required to reduce osttof blindness from ocular trauma, especially among males and among children during school holidays