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Ocular Problems Of The Elderly In Onithsa, Nigeria
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the incidence and pattern of eye diseases among elderly patients at a tertiary eye hospital in Nigeria
Design: Retrospective case series.
Main Outcome Measures: Incidence and causes of blindness and visual impairment.
Materials and Methods: Case files of all new patients aged 65 years and above seen at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha between January 1998 and December 2000 were reviewed information on visual acuity, ocular diagnosis, age and sex were analyzed.
Results: 1328 elderly persons constituting 10.8% of all new patients were reviewed. The major eye diseases were cataract (51.6%): glaucoma (14.8%); retinal diseases (11.9%) refractive errors (11.5%) and conjunctival diseases (10.5%). The incidence of bilateral blindness was 17 5%; monocular blindness, 30.4%; and visual impairment in the better eye, 42.6%. The main causes of bilateral blindness were cataract (53.8%) ; glaucoma (21.1%); uncorrected aphakia (6.5%) and age related macular degeneration (6.0%).
Conclusions: The incidence of blindness is higher than that obtained for all patients in a previous study. Most of the problems could be effectively treated in primary and secondary eye care levels; others including retinal disorders required laser photocoagulation. Vitrectomy and low vision aids – facilities, of which are scarce and expensive. While it is necessary for all centers to have these facilities, there is also a need to subsidize eye care services for elderly Nigerians.
KEY WORDS; Eye problems; blindness; visual impairment; elderly; Nigeria
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.5(2) 2002: 123-126
Design: Retrospective case series.
Main Outcome Measures: Incidence and causes of blindness and visual impairment.
Materials and Methods: Case files of all new patients aged 65 years and above seen at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha between January 1998 and December 2000 were reviewed information on visual acuity, ocular diagnosis, age and sex were analyzed.
Results: 1328 elderly persons constituting 10.8% of all new patients were reviewed. The major eye diseases were cataract (51.6%): glaucoma (14.8%); retinal diseases (11.9%) refractive errors (11.5%) and conjunctival diseases (10.5%). The incidence of bilateral blindness was 17 5%; monocular blindness, 30.4%; and visual impairment in the better eye, 42.6%. The main causes of bilateral blindness were cataract (53.8%) ; glaucoma (21.1%); uncorrected aphakia (6.5%) and age related macular degeneration (6.0%).
Conclusions: The incidence of blindness is higher than that obtained for all patients in a previous study. Most of the problems could be effectively treated in primary and secondary eye care levels; others including retinal disorders required laser photocoagulation. Vitrectomy and low vision aids – facilities, of which are scarce and expensive. While it is necessary for all centers to have these facilities, there is also a need to subsidize eye care services for elderly Nigerians.
KEY WORDS; Eye problems; blindness; visual impairment; elderly; Nigeria
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.5(2) 2002: 123-126
