Acta Scientific Medical Sciences (ASMS)(ISSN: 2582-0931)

Research Article Volume 6 Issue 12

Causes and Magnitudes of Visual Impairment among Children Attending Clinic in Abak, Southern Nigeria

Samuel Chibueze Osuji1*, Kingsley Nosayaba Bazuaye2 and Gertrude Ebele Ejidike1

1Department of Optometry, Faculty of Health Health Sciences, Madonna University Nigeria, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria
2Department of Optometry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Samuel Chibueze Osuji, Department of Public Health, School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

Received: February 01, 2022; Published: November 18, 2022

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to determine the causes and magnitudes of visual impairment among children attending eye clinics in a Sub-urban Hospital, Abak, Southern Nigeria.

Methods: This was a prospective study where a convenience sampling technique was employed to sample a total of 200 children consisting of 97(48.5%) males and 103(51.5%) females and within the age range of 6 to 17 years. With ethical consent obtained from parents and guardians, data was collected on subjects’ history, presenting and best-corrected visual acuities, internal and external ocular conditions. Instruments used involved Snellen’s Visual Acuity (VA) Chart, Trial Lens Case (to assess the presenting VA and best-corrected VA), Keeler Direct Ophthalmoscope, and Slit lamp bio-microscope (for internal and external eye examination). Data collected were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and Chi-square inferential statistics of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 25.

Results: Out of the 200 children examined, there were abnormalities detected in 105 (52.5%) children, while 95 (47.5%) of them did not present any determined abnormality. The major causes of visual impairment were refractive errors [32 (16.0%)], congenital cataract [25 (12.5%)], and optic nerve atrophy [12 (6.0%)]. The least cause was traumatic cataract (2.0%). Although there was higher occurrence of refractive errors in males [19 (9.5%)] than females [13 (6.5%)], congenital cataract occurred more in females [17 (8.5)], than males [8 (4.0%)]. The magnitudes were moderate [43(21.5%)], Blindness [22(11.0%)], Severe [9(4.5%)]. Gender and age were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study showed refractive error as the major cause of visual impairment among children between the ages of 6 to 17 years in Abak and with a significant magnitude leading to blindness. Therefore, early detection and prevention of visual impairment among children through regular eye screening is advocated.

Keywords: Causes; Magnitude; Visual Impairment; Children

References

    Citation

    Citation: Samuel Chibueze Osuji., et al. “Causes and Magnitudes of Visual Impairment among Children Attending Clinic in Abak, Southern Nigeria".Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 6.12 (2022): 39-43.

    Copyright

    Copyright: © 2022 Samuel Chibueze Osuji., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




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