Visual impairment attributable to uncorrected refractive error and other causes in the Ghanaian youth: The University of Cape Coast Survey / Deficiencia visual atribuible a error refractivo no corregido y a otras causas en los jóvenes de Ghana: Estudio de la Universidad de Cape Coast

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of visual impairment attributable to refractive error and other causes in a youthful Ghanaian population. Methods: A prospective survey of all consecutive visits by first-year tertiary students to the Optometry clinic between August, 2013 and April, 2014. Of the 4378 first-year students aged 16-39 years enumerated, 3437 (78.5%) underwent the eye examination. The examination protocol included presenting visual acuity (PVA), ocular motility, and slit-lamp examination of the external eye, anterior segment and media, and non-dilated fundus examination. Pinhole acuity and fundus examination were performed when the PVA≤6/12 in one or both eyes to determine the principal cause of the vision loss. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.86 years (95% CI: 21.72-21.99). The prevalence of bilateral visual impairment (BVI; PVA in the better eye ≤6/12) and unilateral visual impairment UVI; PVA in the worse eye ≤6/12) were 3.08% (95% CI: 2.56-3.72) and 0.79% (95% CI: 0.54-1.14), respectively. Among 106 participants with BVI, refractive error (96.2%) and corneal opacity (3.8%) were the causes. Of the 27 participants with UVI, refractive error (44.4%), maculopathy (18.5%) and retinal disease (14.8%) were the major causes. There was unequal distribution of BVI in the different age groups, with those above 20 years having a lesser burden. Conclusion: Eye screening and provision of affordable spectacle correction to the youth could be timely to eliminate visual impairment (AU)

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de la deficiencia visual atribuible al error refractivo y a otras causas en una población de jóvenes de Ghana. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de todas las visitas consecutivas realizadas por estudiantes terciarios de primer año que acudieron a la Clínica de Optometría entre Agosto de 2013 y Abril de 2014. De los 4.378 estudiantes de primer año registrados, de edades comprendidas entre 16 y 39 años, 3.437 (78,5%) se sometieron a un examen ocular. El protocolo del examen incluyó la revisión de la agudeza visual (AV), la motilidad ocular y la biomicroscopía del ojo externo, segmento anterior y medio, y el examen del fondo de ojo sin dilatación. Los exámenes de la agudeza con agujero estenopeico y del fondo de ojo se realizaron en aquellos casos de AV ≤ 6/12 en uno o ambos ojos para determinar la causa principal de la pérdida de visión. Resultados: La edad media de los participantes fue de 21,86 años (95% IC: de 21,72 a 21,99). La prevalencia de la deficiencia visual bilateral (BVI; AV en el mejor ojo ≤ 6/12) y la deficiencia visual unilateral (UVI; AV en el peor ojo ≤ 6/12) fue del 3,08% (95% IC: de 2,56 a 3,72) y el 0,79% (95% IC: de 0,54 a 1,14), respectivamente. En 106 participantes con BVI, las causas principales fueron el error refractivo (96,2%) y la opacidad corneal (3,8%). De los 27 participantes con UVI, el error refractivo (44,4%), la maculopatía (18,5%) y la enfermedad retiniana (14.8%) fueron los principales motivos. Se produjo una distribución desigual de la BVI en los diferentes grupos de edad, habiendo un menor impacto en aquellos participantes con edades superiores a 20 años. Conclusión: La exploración ocular y la adaptación de una corrección en gafa asequible en los jóvenes podría eliminar a tiempo la deficiencia visual (AU)

Visual impairment attributable to uncorrected refractive error and other causes in the Ghanaian youth: The University of Cape Coast Survey.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of visual impairment attributable to refractive error and other causes in a youthful Ghanaian population. METHODS: A prospective survey of all consecutive visits by first-year tertiary students to the Optometry clinic between August, 2013 and April, 2014. Of the 4378 first-year students aged 16-39 years enumerated, 3437 (78.5%) underwent the eye examination. The examination protocol included presenting visual acuity (PVA), ocular motility, and slit-lamp examination of the external eye, anterior segment and media, and non-dilated fundus examination. Pinhole acuity and fundus examination were performed when the PVA≤6/12 in one or both eyes to determine the principal cause of the vision loss. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 21.86 years (95% CI: 21.72-21.99). The prevalence of bilateral visual impairment (BVI; PVA in the better eye ≤6/12) and unilateral visual impairment UVI; PVA in the worse eye ≤6/12) were 3.08% (95% CI: 2.56-3.72) and 0.79% (95% CI: 0.54-1.14), respectively. Among 106 participants with BVI, refractive error (96.2%) and corneal opacity (3.8%) were the causes. Of the 27 participants with UVI, refractive error (44.4%), maculopathy (18.5%) and retinal disease (14.8%) were the major causes. There was unequal distribution of BVI in the different age groups, with those above 20 years having a lesser burden. CONCLUSION: Eye screening and provision of affordable spectacle correction to the youth could be timely to eliminate visual impairment.