Prevalence and causes of ocular morbidity seen among rural adult population of Osun State, southwest Nigeria

Context: World Glaucoma and Kidney Days were planned for community eye/health screening. Aims: To assess the prevalence and causes of common eye disorders and visual impairment (VI) in two rural communities of Osun State. Settings and Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Materials and Methods: Ethical clearance was obtained. Serial recruitment of all consenting adults presenting at Alajue and Ibokun communities over 2 days was done. Sociodemographic data were obtained. Visual acuity and anterior and posterior segment examinations were done. Refraction was done as necessary. Intraocular pressures (IOPs) were checked for cup:disc ratio >0.6 and perimetry done at base hospital for glaucoma suspects. VI was classified according to the World Health Organization ICD.10. Descriptive analysis was carried out. Chi-square with P-values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to test for significance. Results: In all, 259 subjects-100 males (38.6%) and 159 females (61.4%)-participated. Mean age was 39.73 years (standard deviation [SD] 16.6). The commonest eye disorders were cataract 67 (25.9% CI: 20.5-31.2), refractive error 66 (25.5% CI: 20.2-30.8), glaucoma 17 (6.6% CI: 3.5-9.6), pterygium 14 (5.4%), conjunctivitis 11 (4.2%), hypertensive retinopathies 10 (3.9%, 95% CI 1.5-6.2), cornea opacities 3 (1.2%), and di glaucoma was abetic retinopathy 2 (0.8%). Glaucoma and IOPs were significantly correlated (P = 0.039). CVF changes and glaucoma was significantly associated (P < 0.001). Prevalence of moderate VI was 73 (28.2%, CI: 22.7-33.7), severe VI 9 (3.5%, CI: 1.2-5.7), and blindness 5 (1.9%, CI: 0.2-3.6). Conclusions: There is need to establish community eye-outreach centres to identify cases for cost-effective cataract, refractive error, and glaucoma services. This could reduce the occurrence of these vision and life-threatening disorders.