Aetiology of low Vision Amongst Patients Attending the Eye Clinic of a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

A prospective clinic based study involving 66 patients of both sexes and ages between 3 and 87yr seen at the newly established low vision clinic of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria over an eighteen-month period (March 2007-September 2008) was undertaken. The objective was to assess the causes of low vision. All patients had routine ophthalmologic examination to establish the initial values. Results showed that optic nerve atrophy and degenerative myopia were the leading single causes of low vision defect (16.7%) each. Furthermore, glaucoma and corneal scarring followed with 12.1% each while age related macular degeneration was not seen. Measures to ensure early detection and management of these conditions will help in reducing the incidence and improve the lives of patients with low vision defects in Northern Nigeria.

Keywords: Low vision, defects Aetiology