ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the pattern of ametropia, presbyopia, and the barriers to the uptake of spectacles among adult patients attending Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital (HGSGH), Zaria, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive hospital-based study. The study population was selected by systematic sampling over a 3-month period (July-September, 2016). A questionnaire was administered for sociodemographic data, patients' history, and refraction. Patients with visual acuity less than 6/12 or who required at least +1.00DS to read N8 were given spectacle prescriptions and assessed after 2 months to confirm if they purchased the spectacles. Results: Two hundred and nine patients were assessed: 124 (59.3%) females and 85 (40.7%) males. The age ranged from 18 to 75 years with a mean of 45.5. One hundred and seventy-five (83.7%) had ametropia, 100 (47.8%) had presbyopia, and patients having both were 66 (31.6%). Astigmatism was the most common ametropia, 118 (67.4%), followed by hypermetropic astigmatism 33 (18.9%) and myopia 24 (13.7%). Only 97 (46.6%) patients purchased their spectacles, and 92 of them were using their spectacles. One hundred and twelve (52.2%) patients did not buy their spectacles, with cost being most common barrier to the uptake of spectacles. Conclusion: There is a high burden of ametropia and presbyopia among patients attending HGSGH, Zaria. Cost of spectacles and 'no felt need' were found to affect spectacle uptake. Health information and availability of low-cost spectacles are important strategies in reducing the burden of uncorrected ametropia and presbyopia in Kaduna State.
ABSTRACT
Background: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) remains a major health challenge in Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria. Its association with ocular morbidity and irreversible blindness has been previously documented. There are however limited recent literature on these ocular manifestations, which may have evolved over the years. This study is thus relevant to establish a current baseline for the ocular manifestations associated with PEM in Northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative, cross-sectional study. The sample size was 400 children; 200 with PEM, and 200 without PEM. Consenting parents with children between 6 - 59 months of age diagnosed with PEM, and those without PEM were recruited. Sociodemographic characteristics, general and ocular history were documented. A detailed ocular examination which included visual acuity assessment, examination of ocular adnexae, as well as the anterior and posterior segment of the eyes were done. Data was collected in a structured proforma, and analysed with the SPSS version 21, and Windows WinPepi softwares. Results: Abnormal ocular findings were significantly higher in the PEM group compared to the non-malnourished group [46.5% vs 24%, OR = 2.910 (1.891, 4.477), p = < 0.001]. The predominant ocular examination findings in the PEM and non-malnourished groups were infective conjunctivitis (35.5% vs 17%), lid oedema (11% vs 0%), signs of xerophthalmia (6% vs 0%) and visual impairment (3% vs 0%). Conclusion: PEM is still complicated by varying severity of ocular morbidity, with the potential of progression to irreversible blindness.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of eye disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 100 consecutive patients with RA and SLE. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain details of patients' sociodemographics, type of rheumatic disease, and prescribed medications. Each patient had a detailed examination of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Refraction, intraocular pressure measurement, Schirmer's test, tear breakup time, gonioscopy, and dilated fundoscopy were also done. Fundus photograph, central visual field assessment, and optical coherence tomography were done as necessary. Analysis was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 100 patients consisting of 74 RA and 26 SLE patients were evaluated. The female: male ratio was 4.3: 1 for RA, and all SLE patients were females. The prevalence of eye disorders was 42% in all patients; it was 41.9% and 42.3% among RA and SLE patients, respectively. The most common eye disorders were dry eye (38), refractive errors (18), and cataract (16). The mean age of RA patients with eye disorders (52.19 ± 16.17 years) was significantly higher than those without eye disorders (42.30 ± 13.14 years) (P = 0.005). Conclusion: Eye disorders are common in RA and SLE. Comprehensive eye examination should be done on all RA and SLE patients at diagnosis and before commencement of medications, and patients should be referred promptly for evaluation when they have eye complaints.
ABSTRACT
Background: Smartphone applications (apps) are increasingly becoming more popular for medical use. Aim: The aim of this article is to determine the willingness and ease of using smartphone apps for visual assessment among adult patients attending the general outpatient ophthalmology clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria in Nigeria. Design: The study was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional design. Materials and Methods: New and old adult patients who presented at the clinic and consented to the study were selected. Visual acuity assessment was done using a 6-m Snellen chart and three selected Smartphone visual acuity applications sequentially. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection and then analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 287 patients were studied. Majority (96%) of the patients found the Smartphone apps to be easy to use. A good proportion (76%) of the patients also believed that Smartphone charts were easier to use than the conventional Snellen chart and expressed willingness to use the app again. Conclusion: Smartphone visual acuity apps could offer a convenient, easy-to-learn, and easy-to-use means of visual acuity assessment. This coupled with the demonstrated patient's willingness to embrace this technology could be used to encourage the use of clinically validated apps for the early detection as well as monitoring of any impairment of vision, especially in out-of-clinic situations.
