Io Chukwuka

Ocular problems among public service retirees in a Southern Nigerian Metropolitan City

Background: Advancing age is a recognized risk factor for blindness and visual impairment worldwide. More than 82% of all blind people are 50 years or older. This therefore places a huge public health and socioeconomic burden on the populace, often leading to social dependence. Aim: To determine the pattern, profile, and risk factors of eye diseases among retired public servants in Port Harcourt City, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Participants were retired public servants who consented to ocular examinations at their pension pay points in Port Harcourt during the 2012 World Sight Day. Visual acuity, ocular examinations including fundoscopy and intraocular pressure measurements were recorded and subsequently analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Results: Five hundred and ninety-two persons were studied; 455 males and 137 females (F: M = 1:3.3). The Mean age was 68.7 ± 7.6 years (range: 56–97 years). Using World Health Organization/International Agency for Prevention of Blindness criteria for visual assessment 239 (40.4%) had good vision, 203 (34.3%) had moderate visual impairment, 48 (8.1%) had severe visual impairment, while 102 subjects (17.2%) were blind. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness 56 (54.9%), followed by glaucoma 18 (17.7%), uncorrected refractive error 19 (18.6%), and diabetic retinopathy 9 (8.8%).Conclusion: Visual impairment and blindness are common causes of ocular morbidity among retirees of public service in Port Harcourt. It is therefore advocated that special eye health care intervention by governments and nongovernmental agencies be extended to these groups of people.

Subjective Optic Disc Assessment and Single Measurement Intraocular Pressure to Screen a Cohort of Pensioners in Port Harcourt

Background: There is good evidence that screening can detect primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in adults and that early treatment of adults reduces the number of persons who develop visual field defects or those whose visual field defects progress.1 Aim: To screen and identify persons with glaucoma among pensioners in Port Harcourt. Materials and Method: The study was carried out among retirees in Rivers State. Verbal consent was obtained from the Treasury Department of the Rivers State Ministry of Finance and also from all individuals who participated in the study. Demographic data including age and sex were recorded in the WHO/PBL eye examination form. Ocular examination consisted of uncorrected VA measured with Snellen’s chart and then pin-hole presented when VA 21mmHg and VCDR >0.5 or VCDR = 0.8 with normal intraocular pressure. Results: A total of 176 subjects (351 eyes) were examined; 135(76.7%) male and 41(23.3%) female patients. The mean age of respondents was 62.33 (±±8.58) years. Of the 176 subjects examined, 14 had glaucoma (based on the defined criteria of VCDR > 0.5 and IOP above 21mmHg or VCDR = 0.8 with normal IOP) giving a relative frequency of 7.95%. Ten subjects had ocular hypertension. Conclusion: There is a need to screen at-risk people for glaucoma especially the aged. In doing this, sufferers will be identified early and appropriate treatment instituted to prevent visual loss. Key words: glaucoma screening, cohort, pensioners, Port Harcourt