Common Ocular Problems In Aba Metropolis And Environs

Abstract

Ocular health is one of the most important but most neglected and underestimated Public Health unit. Visual impairment as a result of ocular health problems play very complex roles in the life of affected persons, its effects include reduced productivity, anxiety and depression, poor learning and development abilities, higher morbidity and mortality rates etc. Nine hundred and forty-nine (949), comprising 412 males and 537 females, were examined. From the result, 732 (77.13%) were found to have ocular problems. The common ocular problems identified in the population studied were presbyopia (34.70%), conjunctivitis (17.49%), hyperopia (16. 94%), cataract (6.42%), glaucoma (6.42%), myopia (5.86%), pterygium (3.14%). The strikingly increase in the prevalence of ocular problems in Aba were attributed to lack of appropriate control programmes. Furthermore, ignorance, poverty and gross environmental pollution may have contributed reasonably to the scenario above. There is the need for community eyecare programmes to be integrated into the National Primary Health Care services.

Key Words: Ocular Problems, Aba, Glaucoma, Cataract.