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Comparative Study
. 2012 Oct;19(4):382-91.
doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.102744.

Survey of low vision among students attending schools for the blind in Nigeria: a descriptive and interventional study

Adedamola L Mosuro  1 , Ayotunde I Ajaiyeoba, Charles O Bekibele, Michael S Eniola, Babatunde A Adedokun
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Survey of low vision among students attending schools for the blind in Nigeria: a descriptive and interventional study

Adedamola L Mosuro et al. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of low vision among students attending all the schools for the blind in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study set out to determine the proportion of students with low vision/severe visual impairment after best correction, to determine the causes of the low vision, to document the associated pathologies, to determine the types of treatment and visual aid devices required, and to provide the visual aids needed to the students in the schools.

Materials and methods: All schools students for the blind in Oyo State were evaluated between August 2007 and January 2008. All the students underwent a thorough ophthalmic examination that included measurement of visual acuity, retinoscopy and subjective refraction, tests for visual aids where indicated, and a structured questionnaire was administered.

Results: A total of 86 students were included in the study and the mean age was 19.4 ± 8.19 years. Twenty six (30%) were under 16 years of age. The most common cause of blindness was bilateral measles keratopathy/vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in 25 students (29.1%). The most common site affected was the cornea in 25 students (29.1%), the lens in 23 (26.7%), and the retina/optic nerve in 16 (18.6%). Preventable blindness was mainly from measles keratopathy/VAD (29.1%). Eleven students benefited from refraction and correction with visual aids; two having severe visual impairment (SVI), and nine having visual impairment (VI) after correction.

Conclusion: The prevalence of low vision in the schools for the blind in Oyo State is 2.3%, while the prevalence of visual impairment is 10.5%. These results suggest that preventable and treatable ocular conditions are the source of significant childhood blindness in Oyo State.

Keywords: Blind; Childhood Blindness; Low Vision; Measles Keratopathy; Oyo State; Vitamin A Deficiency.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The age–sex distribution of the 86 students attending schools for the blind in Oyo State
Figure 2
Figure 2
Etiology of blindness and low vision among the 86 students attending schools for the blind in Oyo State
Figure 3
Figure 3
Primary anatomical sites involved among the 86 students attending schools for the blind in Oyo State
Figure 4
Figure 4
Visual categories of students in the schools for the blind in Oyo State after correction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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