Fo Olatunji

Clinical findings among nigerian paediatric glaucoma suspects during a school eye health survey.

Objective: To report clinical findings suspicious of glaucoma among primary school children in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional survey of ocular health among 1,393 school children carried out between July 2005 and Janu- ary 2006. Criteria for suspecting glaucoma included a cup disc ratio (CD) of > 0.5, a CD asymmetry between the fellow eyes of > 0.2, and/or intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21mmHg by applanation tonometry. Results: Eleven (6 boys and 5 girls) of 1,393 pupils (0.8%), aged between 7 and 13 years, had ocular findings suspicious of glaucoma. Twenty two eyes of 11 pupils had a CD ratio > 0.6, and among these 5 eyes had IOP > 21. Three of the pu- pils had a CD asymmetry of > 0.2. Conclusion: A significant proportion of these Nigerian school pupils had clinical signs suggestive of glaucoma. A func- tional school health programme with eye health component coupled with efficient referral system is advocated.Objective: To report clinical findings suspicious of glaucoma among primary school children in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional survey of ocular health among 1,393 school children carried out between July 2005 and January 2006. Criteria for suspecting glaucoma included a cup disc ratio (CD) of > 0.5, a CD asymmetry between the fellow eyes of > 0.2, and/or intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21mmHg by applanation tonometry. Results: Eleven (6 boys and 5 girls) of 1,393 pupils (0.8%), aged between 7 and 13 years, had ocular findings suspicious of glaucoma. Twenty two eyes of 11 pupils had a CD ratio ≥ 0.6, and among these 5 eyes had IOP > 21. Three of the pupils had a CD asymmetry of > 0.2. Conclusion: A significant proportion of these Nigerian school pupils had clinical signs suggestive of glaucoma. A functional school health programme with eye health component coupled with efficient referral system is advocated.

Ocular injuries from the horsewhip: A 9 years retrospective study

Background: Horsewhip is a thong made from animal hide and is commonly used among African population to strike commonly, erring children as a form of corporal punishment to correct wrong doings especially at homes and in schools′. This practice is against International law (1989, Convention on the Rights of the child, UN) which sought to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation. Its use is associated with a myriad of vision threaten conditions including ruptured globe. Aim : The aim was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of eye injuries caused by horsewhip and recommend ways to reduce it. Materials and Methods : A 9 years retrospective study of horsewhip ocular trauma was carried out. The following information were extracted from patient′s medical records: Sociodemographic record, circumstance of trauma, extent of eye injury, visual acuity (VA) at admission and at the time of discharge. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 18. Results: Horsewhip ocular injuries constituted 20 of a total number of 930 cases of ocular trauma seen during the study periods . There were 13 males and 7 females. Most patients were students 15 (75%). Left eye was mostly affected 11 (55%). Half of the injuries occurred at schools 10 (50%, 8 in Quranic and 2 in formal), followed by home 7 (35%). Cornea was the most affected part by the trauma 7 (35%). At the presentation to our hospital 11 (55%) had visual acuities of 6/18 or worse in the affected eye. The overall visual outcome of the patients as at the last hospital visit shows 50% attained a VA of 6/12 or better, and 50% had VA of 6/60 or worse. Conclusion: Horsewhip ocular trauma is an important cause of ocular morbidity, and the importance of ocular health education as a form of preventive measure is underscored.