The pattern of oculoplastic disorders in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background: The oculoplastic subspecialty is still a growing field in Nigeria, with few centres providing its services. These conditions may arise from congenital malformation, involutional changes, trauma, metabolic diseases and tumours. Oculoplastic disorders can result in visual dysfunction, anatomical deformities and unappealing appearance which may lead to psychosocial isolation, withdrawal from formal education and ultimately a decreased quality of life.
Objective: This study presents the frequency and pattern of presentation of oculoplastic disorders in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital with a view to updating available databases on oculoplastic conditions in the South-South geopolitical part of Nigeria which will help to develop an oculoplastic disease registry.
Methods: This was a retrospective review of oculoplastic disorders that presented to the Ophthalmology clinic and accident and emergency rooms of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020 from the electronic departmental register. Informationregarding demographics, presenting complaints and diagnoses were obtained and analyzed using the SPSS software version 21.
Results: A total of 247 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 29.6±20.0years. Approximately one-third of the patients were males 158 (64.0%) with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Eyelid laceration injuries 54 (21.9%) represented the highest number of
oculoplastic/eyelid cases followed by ptosis (16.2%). Participants in the 21-30 years age group had more eyelid conditions (44; 78.6%) than the other age groups while children aged ≤ 10 years presented with more orbital and lacrimal conditions (19; 37.3% and 6; 11.8% respectively.
Conclusion: Young adults made up majority of the study participants and males were more than females in this study. Also, eyelid conditions were the most frequent of the oculoplastic conditions seen in the emergency room and Ophthalmology clinic with adults constituting majority of the number. Children presented with more orbital and lacrimal conditions.