Blindness and visual impairment in Okoboh, a rural community in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State-findings from a one-day Rotary eye camp

Abstract

Background: The rising incidence and prevalence of poor vision and blindness in the world, especially among the rural communities in developing countries, has led to global initiatives against blindness in rural communities of the world. As part of its contribution in the global fight against blindness in the rural communities, Rotary International, a humanitarian global organization, encourages all Rotary clubs world wide to undertake annual eye-camps in rural communities as part of their community service.
Aim: To report the findings of a one-day eye-camp by the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt south in Okoboh rural community in Abua/Odual Local Government area of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: The eye-camp was organized by the Rotary International Club with the help of volunteer ophthalmology resident doctors, optometrists and ophthalmic nurses. Each beneficiary of the eye-camp had detailed eye examination comprising, visual acuity, optical refraction, measurement of ocular tension (where indicated) and detailed ophthalmologic evaluation.
Results: At the eye-camp, 165 persons were attended to. They comprised 56 males and 109 females (M:F=1:1.95).They had a mean age of 42.9± 15.9 years (range 2 to 72 years.). By WHO/IAPB criteria for visual assessment 13.6% of the subjects had low vision (VA<6/18 to 3/60) in the better eye, 8.65% were blind with VA less than 3/60. Vision deteriorated with increasing age. Presbyopia was the commonest error of refraction occurring in 63.8% of the patients. Cataract (17.1%), allergic conjunctivitis (9.5%), glaucoma (8.6%) and corneal opacity (2.7%) were the most frequent ophthalmologic disorders encountered. Bilateral blindness was observed in 12 (7.2%) of the subjects with cataract being responsible for 66.7% of the blindness. The other causes of bilateral blindness were optic atrophy (16.7%), bilateral corneal opacity (8.3%) and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) (8.3%).
Conclusion: Visual impairment and blindness are common in the Okoboh rural community. Cataracts, glaucoma, corneal opacity and age- related macular degeneration, are the commonest eye disorders and the commonest causes of blindness in the Okoboh community.
As the community lacks any form of eye care service, an urgent Government intervention is advocated.


Keywords: Visual impairment, Blindness, Okoboh community, Rivers State, Rotary eye camp

Port Harcourt Medical Journal Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 77-84