Ocular Manifestations in HIV-AIDS Patients in a Nigerian Community

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the ocular manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) among the study population.Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among HIV-AIDS patients at the Federal Medical Centre; Owo; Nigeria. Ethics clearance was obtained from the ethics review committee of the hospital. Informed consent was obtained from all the respondents. This study was conducted over a period of nine months; from October 2010-June 2011; at the medical outpatient centre and the eye clinic of the hospital. The obtained information included the socio-demographics of the respondents; World Health Organization clinical stage of AIDS; CD4 count; duration of HIV-positive status; history of ocular problems and the treatment sought.Results: A total of 112 consenting respondents participated in this study. Not many respondents (36; 32.1) were aware of eye complications that relate to HIV-AIDS. Most informed respondents had been enlightened by health workers (20; 55.6). Few respondents (16; 14.3) had HIV-AIDS ocular manifestations. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common ocular manifestation.Conclusion: Efforts should be made to promote the ocular health of HIV-AIDS patients to prevent blinding ocular manifestation

Pattern of ocular injuries in owo, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: To determine the pattern of ocular injuries in patients presenting to the eye clinic and the accident and emergency department of Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between January and December 2009. Federal Medical Center, Owo is the only tertiary hospital in Ondo State, Nigeria. The eye center located at this medical center was the only eye care facility in the community at the time of this study. All patients were interviewed with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire and underwent a detailed ocular examination. RESULTS: Of 132 patients included in the study, most (84.1%) sustained blunt eye injury while (12.1%) had penetrating eye injury. A considerable proportion of patients (37.9%) presented within 24 hours of injury. Vegetative materials were the most common (42.4%) offending agent, a minority of patients (22%) was admitted and none of the patients had used eye protection at the time of injury. CONCLUSION: In the current series, blunt eye injury was the most common type of ocular trauma. The community should be educated and informed about the importance of preventive measures including protective eye devices during high risk activities. Patients should be encouraged to present early following ocular injury.