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

Presenting Visual Acuities in a Referral Eye Center in an Oil-Producing Area of Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the pattern of presenting visual acuities at an eye center in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Study Design: Retrospective chart review Methods: A retrospective review of patient records attending a private referral eye center providing services for company patients and the general public in the region. Information was obtained from computerized medical records of 6533 patients who attended the center for various eye concerns in a 5-year period (January 1998 to December 2002). Results: A total of 6533 patients were seen in this 5-year period of which 2472 (37.8) were company patients and 4061 (62.2). were private patients. There were 3879 males (59.4) and 2654 females (40.6). A visual acuity of 6/6 or better was seen in 50.8of the patients. In 76.6of patients; a visual acuity of 6/18 or better was recorded. There were 21.4of patients in the low vision group. Bilateral blindness occurred in 2.1of patients. Monocular blindness occurred in 3.7of patients. Low vision occurred in 16.9of company patients and 24.1of private patients. Bilateral blindness occurred in 0.9of company patients and 2.7of private patients; while monocular blindness occurred in 1.2of company patients and 5.2of private patients. The main ocular problems were refractive error; glaucoma; conjunctivitis; headaches; ocular trauma; retina and related pathologies; cataract; uveitis; pterygium and corneal problems. Conclusion: The incidence of low vision and blindness is high in the oil-producing area of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Low vision and blindness were more common in private patients than in company patients

Ophthalmic disorders in Adult Lymphoma Patients in Africa

Context: Ocular manifestations of lymphoma are rare events. Most reports of ocular involvement in lymphoma are case reports or reports of a few patients. Aims: To determine the ophthalmic disorders in adult; African; lymphoma patients. Settings and Design: A prospective study of ocular disorders in adult patients with lymphoma was conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City; Nigeria; between July 2004 and June 2007. Materials and Methods: The patients were interviewed and examined by the authors and the ocular findings recorded. Statistical Analysis: Data was analyzed on computer with the aid of the Instat GraghPadT v2.05a statistical package software. The mean; standard deviation; Mann-Whitney U-statistic and P value were calculated. Results: A total of 111 patients with hematological malignancies were seen over a period of three years of which 62 (55.85) had lymphomas. Of these; 51(82.3) were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 11(17.7) were Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ocular disorders occurred in 16 patients (31.4) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and none of the patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (Mann-Whitney U-statistic is equal to 7.500; U' is equal to161.50; P ; 0.0001). The ocular disorders due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were seen as - proptosis in six patients (11.8); retinopathies in three (5.9); conjunctival infiltration in three (5.9); optic atrophy in two (3.9); keratoconjunctivitis in one (two per cent); desquamating nodular lid lesions in one (two per cent); papilloedema in one (two per cent); and upper lid mass in one (two per cent). Four patients (6.5) had monocular blindness. Conclusions: Ophthalmic disorders are relatively common in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ophthalmic evaluation is needed in these patients for early identification and treatment of potentially blinding conditions

Non-Laser Management of Post-Extraction Opacification of the Posterior Capsule

The objective of this study is to describe an alternative procedure to laser for the management of posterior capsule opacifications after extra capsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Thirty-one patients with posterior capsule opacification had non-laser secondary capsulotomy. The procedure was performed with the aid of a 25 G capsulotomy needle through the opening of the peripheral iridectomy after injection of visco elastic between the posterior capsule and the intraocular lens. There was improvement in the visual acuity of all the patients and there was no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. The technique described provides an alternative to Nd: yag Laser capsulotomy particularly in centers that do not have yag laser facilities