Risk factors for early presbyopia in Nigerians

Abstract

A hospital based prospective study was conducted to determine the pattern, age of onset and contributory factors to early onset of presbyopia in a major referral center in south western Nigeria between October 2001 and September 2003. Patients with any systemic or ocular pathologies and anisometropia of more than one dioptre were excluded from the study. The study revealed that 15.5% of the patients had presbyopia before age 40 years. The youngest age of presentation was 33 years. Majority of these presbyopic patients were students (29.4%) and teachers (24.5%). Males had higher degrees (>3.00ds) of presbyopic errors than females. Increased visual task is a major factor contributing to onset before 35 years. It is concluded that Presbuyopia sets in much earlier in Nigerians and increased visual activity is a major contributing factor.

Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol.16(1) 2006: 7-11