Visual impairment among eye health workers in a tertiary eye centre in Ghana

To determine causes of visual impairment (VI) among staff of the Eye Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

This was a cross-sectional study.

The Eye Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), from October 2016 to March 2017 on all consenting members of staff.

Eighty-four (79.3%) of 106 consenting staff members participated in this study.

A detailed history (demographic, ocular, medical co-morbid conditions), ocular examination and relevant diagnostic investigations were conducted. Interventions initiated included treatment for glaucoma, dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis and spectacles prescription for refractive errors.

Prevalence of avoidable causes of VI (glaucoma, cataract, refractive errors). Secondary outcomes included prevalence of unavoidable causes of VI.

Eighty-four (79.3%) members of staff participated in this study. Most of the participants were females, 54(64.3 %). Age ranged from 23 to 60 years with an average of 35.8±9.9 years (mean ± SD).Prevalence of VI was 9.5 % (8/84), all due to uncorrected refractive error. Other known causes of VI included open angle glaucoma in 12(14.3 %), macular scar of unknown cause, 1(1.2 %) and sutural cataract, 1(1.2 %) but were all visually insignificant.

The prevalence of VI among the staff of the Eye Centre of the KBTH was 9.5 %, all due to refractive errors. Other known causes of avoidable visual impairment and blindness encountered were glaucoma (14.3 %), macular scar (1.2 %) and cataract (1.2 %), all asymptomatic. Routine eye screening should be part of periodic medical examination for employees.

None declared.