Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology

Editorial Comments: Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology, September–December 2022

2023-04-21T13:58:51+00:00

No Abstract

Prevalence of Visual Impairment Among Primary School Pupils in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana

2023-04-21T14:03:20+00:00

Objective: To determine the prevalence and pattern of visual impairment (VI) among primary school pupils in the Ga West Municipality of Ghana.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey among primary school pupils at the Ga West Municipality. A cluster sampling technique was used to select 765 pupils from 12 primary schools (six public and six private schools). All pupils had presenting visual acuity (VA) testing and pupils with VI (presenting VA <6/18 in the better eye) had detailed ocular examination to determine the cause of VI. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between independent variables and prevalence of VI.

Results: Four hundred and forty-eight (58.6%) of the pupils were males and their mean age was 10 ± 2.4 years. The prevalence of VI was 4.3%. Refractive error, 17 (51.5%), was the most common cause of moderate VI. Other morbidities associated with moderate VI were ocular surface abnormalities secondary to vernal keratoconjunctivitis, five (15.2%), amblyopia, four (12.1%), cataract, two (6.1%), and albinism, two (6.1%). The causes of severe VI were corneal opacity, chorioretinal scars, and glaucoma, each accounting for 3.0% of VI. Increasing age of pupils (P = 0.04) and private school attendance (P = 0.01) were found to be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of VI.

Conclusion: Refractive error was the most common cause of VI in the primary school pupils. Annual eye examination and provision of affordable spectacles to school pupils with refractive error is recommended to reduce the impact of VI on their educational achievement.

Barriers to Free Cataract Surgery during a Surgical Outreach Camp in New Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

2023-04-21T14:07:48+00:00

Aim: To determine the proportion of screened cataract patients with vision 6/60 that will utilize the free cataract surgical services and to identify the barriers to uptake of the free cataract surgical services.

Settings and design: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 53 cataract patients with vision acuity (VA) 6/60 who presented at a cataract surgical outreach camp in New Karu LGA, Nasarawa State from September 10 to 14, 2013, using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Statistical analysis used: Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 using the descriptive analysis.

Results: Six hundred and sixty-six people registered for the outreach, 552 were examined, 125 had cataract of which 53 had cataract with VA 6/60, and were offered the free cataract surgical service. The age range of the participants was 36 to 77 with a mean age of 54 years. Twenty-seven were males and 26 were females. Initially, 64.2% were willing to have surgery, eventually 75.5% took up the free cataract surgical services. Females, residents of New Karu LGA, the uneducated and housewives were less likely to take up the free cataract surgical services and this was statistically significant. The most common barriers identified include 41% were afraid of surgery and 26.1% had heard of a bad outcome previously following cataract surgery.

Conclusion: There was a high utilization of the free cataract surgical service. Fear of surgery and prior knowledge on poor outcome were major barriers. Community participation played an immense role to increase uptake.

Posterior Iris-Claw Lens – A Boon to Budding Cataract Surgeons

2023-04-21T14:14:03+00:00

Aim: The aim was a retrospective comparative study on visual outcomes and complications of retro-pupillary fixated iris-claw lens (RPICL) with respect to the experience level of the operating surgeons.

Methods and Materials: A retrospective study in which records of 126 patients who had RPICL implanted following cataract surgery between January and December 2020 at our hospital were analyzed. Patients were categorized into two groups: (a) RPICL done by a consultant (with experience of a minimum of 25 RPICL done) and (b) RPICL done by a resident (less than two RPICL done, with assistance). Visual outcome (best-corrected visual acuity in logMAR) and postoperative complications (on the first postoperative day and one month) were analyzed in the two groups.

Results: There was a total of 126 eyes in 126 patients, of which primary RPICL was implanted in 45 eyes by the consultants (group A) and 81 eyes by the residents (group B). Overall ocular risk factors warranting a difficult surgery were significantly higher in the consultant group when compared with the resident group (P = 0.001). Mean preoperative vision was 0.899 and 1.137 in group A and group B, respectively. The final postoperative vision (postoperative period 1 month) was 0.246 and 0.332 in group A and group B, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative and postoperative vision between both groups. Postoperative complications on day 1 were more in group B (71.6%) than in group A (55.6%) (P = 0.054). However, most of them resolved within 1 month postoperative period.

Conclusion: Primary RPICL implantation is an effective modality of visual rehabilitation in complicated cataract surgery with deficient capsular support and is a boon for young budding cataract surgeons.