Blindness and Visual Impairment among Adults in a Tertiary Eye Clinic, in Osogbo S W Nigeria

BACKGROUND: To plan and implement appropriate management of patients with blindness and visual impairment (VI) requires the knowledge of the common presenting causes. AIM: The aim of the following study is to determine the common causes of VI in adults and develop a template for eye care delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive analysis of subjects aged 17 years and above who attended LAUTECH Teaching Hospital eye clinic between October 2012 and March 2013. Information on demographic data, visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examinations, and refraction were obtained from patients’ records. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16. 2, USA was used for descriptive analysis. Chi-square, P values and confidence intervals (CI) were derived for statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 617 cases were reviewed including 306/617 (49.6%) males and 311/617 (50.4%) females. The frequently occurring age-groups were the 51-60 year 120/617 (19.4%) and the 61-70 year 115/617 (18.6%). The common causes of blindness and VI were cataract 225/617 (36.5%, CI: 32.7-40.3), glaucoma 124/617 (20.1%, CI: 16.93-23.25), refractive errors 119/617 (19.3%, CI: 16.17-22.4); trauma and cornea opacities 14/617 (6.1%) each. Refractive error 6/176 (3.4%) was a significant cause of blindness in this study. χ(2) = 33.68, P < 0.001. More females presented with refractive errors 79/311 (66.4%), while more males presented with trauma 32/306 (78.0%). χ(2) = 186.47, P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The common causes of VI are avoidable. Planning for best practice methods, purchase of equipment/instruments, consumables, drugs, and manpower development is required. Establishment of low-cost cataract surgical and refractive services could reduce their incidence.