Gladys Nweke
Dr Mrs Nnenna Fortune Obi of the Department of Ophthalmology, in the University of Port Harcourt, has explained the reason and determination of the ophthalmic problems and their possible causes among adults in rural communities in Rivers State.
Dr Mrs Nnenna Fortune Obi who is a consultant public health optometrist and distinguished fellow of Nigeria post-graduate college of optometrist (FNCO), in her research, disclosed that the multistage population-based random sampling study of adults in five clans of Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, has the medical history was taken and comprehensive ocular examination was done on each subject.
Dr Mrs Obi also noted that the Ocular examination includes visual acuity, visual field, optometry and ophthalmoscopy data were taken, recorded and analysed, using statistical software called Minitab 11. Ethical approval was obtained from relevant authorities.
She outlined the results, which she said that Out of the 600 subjects seen in this study 276 (46.0%) were males and 324 (54.0%) are females. They were all above 21 years old, twenty-six that is (2.4%) subjects had a good vision while 8 (0.8%) were blind. The ophthalmic problems identified were Presbyopia 298 (28.0%), Refractive error 247 (23.2%), Cataract 126 (11.8%), Allergic conjunctivitis 106 (9.9%), Glaucoma 94 (8.8%), Pterygium 86 (8.1%), Bacterial conjunctivitis 35 (3.3%), Corneal opacity 32 (3.0%), Chalazion 4 (0.4%), Diabetic retinopathy 3 (0.3%) and Ptosis 1 (0.1%).
Dr Mrs Obi also stressed that most common ophthalmic problems in this study which were dependent on gender and occupation which includes Presbyopia, Refractive Error, Cataract and Allergic Conjunctivitis. Saying that more females and farmers were in this study. The problems identified can be easily managed if well-equipped health facilities are provided by the government, she added.
