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Prevalence of Eye Disease among Inmates of Ilesa Prison, Southwest Nigeria
Abstract
Introduction: In Nigeria, like many other developing countries where prisoners have restricted access to health care including eye health care, severe untreated eye disorders are common causes of ocular morbidity and blindness. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and pattern of eye disease among prisoners in Ilesa Prison, Osun state.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of ocular disorders among all the prisoners in Ilesa prison was conducted between October 2008 and March 2009. An interviewer – administered questionnaire was designed for the study. Ocular examination of each of the prisoners was carried out by an Ophthalmologist. This consisted of pen torch examination, direct ophthalmoscopy, intraocular pressure measurements, refraction, and visual field examination by confrontational methods.
Result: Overall, a total of 515 prisoners were examined consisting of 492 (95.5%) males and 23 (4.5%) females. The male to female ratio was 21:1. This is statistically significant (p-<0.001). The age range was 15years to 77years with mean age of 32years SD + 9.81. Of these, 359(69.7%) had various eye disorders. The most common ocular conditions seen were refractive error (35.3%), allergic conjunctivitis (14.9%), presbyopia (10.9%) pterygium (8.9%) and glaucoma (8.9%).
In conclusion, ocular morbidity is a major problem among Ilesa Prison in-mates. Refractive error was the most common eye disorder and also the most common cause of visual impairment among the prisoners.
Key Words: Access, Blindness, Eye care, Ocular diseases, Prisoners
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njcm.v4i1.2
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of ocular disorders among all the prisoners in Ilesa prison was conducted between October 2008 and March 2009. An interviewer – administered questionnaire was designed for the study. Ocular examination of each of the prisoners was carried out by an Ophthalmologist. This consisted of pen torch examination, direct ophthalmoscopy, intraocular pressure measurements, refraction, and visual field examination by confrontational methods.
Result: Overall, a total of 515 prisoners were examined consisting of 492 (95.5%) males and 23 (4.5%) females. The male to female ratio was 21:1. This is statistically significant (p-<0.001). The age range was 15years to 77years with mean age of 32years SD + 9.81. Of these, 359(69.7%) had various eye disorders. The most common ocular conditions seen were refractive error (35.3%), allergic conjunctivitis (14.9%), presbyopia (10.9%) pterygium (8.9%) and glaucoma (8.9%).
In conclusion, ocular morbidity is a major problem among Ilesa Prison in-mates. Refractive error was the most common eye disorder and also the most common cause of visual impairment among the prisoners.
Key Words: Access, Blindness, Eye care, Ocular diseases, Prisoners
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njcm.v4i1.2
