Prevalence of blindness in a rural ophthalmically underserved Nigerian community

A blindness prevalence survey was performed in Ifedapo Local Government Area of Oyo state in Nigeria to provide baseline data for evaluation and monitoring of eye care services in the area. In the ten villages selected for the survey, an average urban migration rate of 27.8% per year was found. 1973 persons were examined. Three persons were blind in both eyes and 18 were blind in one eye alone. Eleven people suffered low-vision in both eyes, while 35 suffered low-vision in one eye only. The community prevalence rate of blindness (WHO definition) was 0.15% and prevalence rate of low-vision (WHO definition) was 0.56%. The three blind patients were age 70, 58 and 70 years respectively. They were a male and two females. The mean age of the low vision-group 56 years and the male:female ratio was 1:2. The major causes of low-vision and blindness were cataracts, senile macular degeneration, glaucoma, non-trachomatous corneal opacities and uncorrected refractive errors. It is reckoned that 58% of the blindness is treatable. Another 13% could have been avoided if good ophthalmic services were available. About 13% was irreversible and 13% of the aetiology of blindness was unknown.