Impact of Visual Impairment and Blindness on Quality of Life of Patients in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine the quality of life (QOL) of patients with visual impairment in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, with a view to making recommendations for comprehensive management of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study carried out at the Eye Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. New patients aged 18 years and older were consecutively recruited. Data were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire and a World Health Organization's QOL Scale-Short Form (WHO-QOL-BREF). Participants had comprehensive eye examinations, and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. RESULTS: One hundred and eight (53.7%) females and 93 (46.3%) males with a mean age of 55.92 ± 16.94 years participated in the study. The major causes of visual impairment were uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, and cataract. Glaucoma (6.5%) was the leading cause of blindness. The overall QOL score was 61.10 ± 19.75, with the lowest mean score in the environmental domain. With increasing visual impairment, there was a 19.1% reduction in QOL. QOL was also affected by age, duration of visual impairment, and history of poor near vision. CONCLUSION: The leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in this study are avoidable and treatable. Health education, appropriate intervention, and support groups should be encouraged. This may serve to reduce the burden of visual impairment and improve the QOL of patients.

Awareness and Knowledge of Glaucoma among Hospital Workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City

Background: Glaucoma is a disease of public health importance. We assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City; Edo State; Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is cross-sectional study of hospital workers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City. Data on demographics; awareness and knowledge of glaucoma was gathered through structured self-administered questionnaires to a random sample of workers. Statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 16 (SPSS Inc. 2007. SPSS for Windows; Version 16.0. Chicago) software. Chi-square test was used to assess for any statistically significant difference in the social demographic factors such as age; gender; staff category; education; and duration of employment in the hospital and awareness of glaucoma. The level of knowledge among the staff categories was also compared using the Chi-square test. Statistical significance was taken as P 0.05. Results: There were a total of 226 respondents. 93 (41.2) were in the age group of 21-30 years. 111 (49.1) were males. 168 (74.3) were aware of glaucoma. Awareness of glaucoma was higher among the paramedical staff and among workers with a higher education (P 0.001). The knowledge of glaucoma was good among 31) were aware of glaucoma. Awareness of glaucoma was higher among the paramedical staff and among workers with a higher education (P 0.001). The knowledge of glaucoma was good among 31 of those who were aware of glaucoma; fair in 31.5 and poor in 37.8. Conclusions: There is a need to educate hospital workers on glaucoma in order to raise awareness and increase their level of knowledge such that blindness prevention from glaucoma may be possible from early diagnosis and prompt treatment in these workers; their relatives; and contacts

A comparison study of conjunctiva disorders in technical and administrative sawmill workers in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Workers in the sawmilling industry are at risk of various ocular hazards as a direct result of the sawmilling processes. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of conjunctival disorders between technical and administrative sawmill workers in Benin, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on sawmill workers in Benin, Nigeria, between January and May 2009, with the aid of pre-tested questionnaires. Ocular examination was performed on all subjects. Data obtained were recorded and analysed using SPSS version 13. RESULTS: A total of 553 sawmill workers were studied, among whom 449 (81.2%) and 104 (18.8%) were technical and administrative workers, respectively. There were 496 (89.7%) males and 57 (10.3%) females. The age range was 15-80 years, with a mean of 38.9 years (SD 12.8). Pingueculum was found in 127 (23%) workers, among whom 122 (27.2%) were technical workers and 5 (4.8%) were administrative workers. Pterygium was present in 65 (11.8%) workers, among whom 64 (14.3%) were technical workers and 1 (1%) was an administrative worker. Seven (1.6%) technical workers used protective eyewear; 2 (0.4%) wore this protective eyewear regularly. CONCLUSION: Technical sawmill workers are at risk of developing conjunctival disorders, which result from chronic ocular irritation. This can be prevented by the provision of protective eye devices in the workplace.

Cost Analysis of Medical versus Surgical Management of Glaucoma in Nigeria.

PURPOSE: To analyze the cost of glaucoma medical therapy and compare it with that of surgical management in Nigeria. METHODS: The cost of glaucoma drugs and that of surgical therapy in patients who attended the eye clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, between December 2002 and November 2008 were calculated over a 3 year period of follow-up. Costs of medical and surgical therapy were compared based on November 2008 estimates. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients met the inclusion criteria of the study, of which, 90 patients (83.33%) received medical therapy and 18 patients (16.67%) underwent surgery. The most expensive drugs were the prostaglandin analogues, travoprost (Travatan) and latanoprost (Xalatan). The least expensive topical drugs were beta-blockers and miotics. The mean annual cost of medical treatment was US$ 273.47±174.42 (range, $41.54 to $729.23) while the mean annual cost of surgical treatment was US$ 283.78±202.95 (range, $61.33 to $592.63). There was no significant difference between the mean costs of medical and surgical therapy over the 3-year period (P = 0.37). Older age (P = 0.02) and advanced glaucoma (P < 0.001) were associated with higher costs of therapy. CONCLUSION: The cost of medical therapy was comparable to that of surgical therapy for glaucoma in Nigeria over a 3-year period.