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.