PREVALENCE AND PATTERN OF PRESBYOPIA IN A RURAL NIGERIAN COMMUNITY

Presbyopia is an age related loss of accommodation that results in the inability to focus at near distances. Few population-based studies exist on the prevalence of presbyopia among people living in developing countries.

To determine the prevalence of presbyopia, presbyopia correction coverage and identify barriers to spectacle usage in individuals aged 35years and above.

Cross sectional descriptive survey.

Esie, a rural community in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Four hundred and four subjects with best corrected distance vision ≥20/60 were enrolled into the study by a multistage sampling procedure. Distance and near vision testing and near refraction (for those with presenting near VA < N8 at 40cm) were carried out. Interviewer administered structured questionnaires were used to collect subjects' information.

Three hundred and thirty five subjects were included while 24 subjects were not available for examination and 45 subjects excluded based on the visual acuity cut off point. The age range was 35 to 100 years, with a mean age of 57±12.1years. The prevalence of presbyopia was 59.7%. Presbyopia correction coverage was 46.5%. Increasing age was found to be significantly associated with presbyopia, while gender, occupation and educational level were not. Skilled workers, retired persons and those with at least a secondary education were more likely to have glasses than others. The commonest barrier to obtaining near vision glasses was lack of money.

Presbyopia is a major burden and cause of ocular morbidity in this rural community. Cost is the commonest barrier to obtaining near vision spectacles. Increasing the availability of affordable spectacles will go a long way to overcome this.