The burden of low vision in farming communities in South-South Nigeria

The impact of low vision (visual impairment categories 1 and 2) is felt more in developing countries of the world due to the problems of access to effective eye care. In severe cases it leads to social problems with economic implications. When children are involved, learning is affected leading to dependence even when they become adults and the community also suffers from this. Effective care, more often than not, brings about cure in some cases but unfortunately, access to this care is denied for reasons ranging from ignorance and harmful traditional practices to lack of commitment by governments.

To determine the prevalence and causes of low vision in some farming communities in South-South Nigeria in order to proffer solution on its prevention and possible management.

A cross-sectional, population based, multistage survey was carried out between the 8th of September and 20th of October, 2007 to determine the burden of low vision. Households were picked from seven villages selected from seven communities by random sampling in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Basic eye examination involving visual acuity assessment, pen torch examination, funduscopy and intraocular pressure measurement was done. Refraction was manually done and high plus (+8 to + 10) lenses used for aphakics. Visual field was assessed using confrontation method. Data was recorded with World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness (WHO/PBL) form.

A total of 754 males and 759 females were examined, giving a male to female ratio (M: F) of approximately 1:1. The prevalence of low vision was 5.5% (category 1: moderate visual impairment = 4.1% and category 2: severe visual impairment = 1.4%). There were more females (51.8%) with low vision than males (48.2%) most of them being more than 50 years old. No child below 10 years had low vision though those between 10-19 years made up 1.78% of all case of low vision. The commonest causes of low vision were refractive error (50.6%), cataract and aphakia (26.5%), glaucoma (8.5%), optic atrophy (8.5%), while others contributed 10%.

The management of low vision should target vulnerable groups (females and those > 50 years) through effective planning and implementation of programs for prevention ofblindness, outreach programs for enlightenment about causes and the use of low vision aids, making treatment affordable, training of health personnel on basic eye care and establishment of a functional state program for blindness prevention.