Background: No data are yet available on the causes of blindness and low vision in Bayelsa State of Nigeria.
Objective: The study is to provide baseline data on the causes of blindness and low vision in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted among new consecutive patients presenting at the eye clinic of Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital. Patients with visual acuity of less than 6/18 in the better eye after optical correction or with pin hole as necessary were studied. Their visual acuity was determined using a snellen chart followed by anterior and posterior segment examination using a Haagstreit slit lamp biomicroscope and direct or indirect ophthalmoscope respectively (Keeler). Other information obtained from patients included their age, sex and occupation.
Main outcome measure: Visual acuity < 3/60 in the better eye and visual acuity < 6/18 in the better eye.
Statistical analysis: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS was done using a scientific calculator.
Results: Over a period of one year, 230 patients presented with visual impairement consisting of 124 blind cases and 106 cases of low vision. Their ages ranged from 3 to 90 years with a mean of 48 years. There were 118 males and 112 females giving a male:female ratio of 1:1.1. Cataract and glaucoma were the leading causes of blindness and low vision. Cataract was responsible for 63% of blindness and 49.8% of low vision while glaucoma accounted for 22% of blindness and 17.9% of low vision. The other causes of blindness in decreasing order includes maculopathy (4.3%), retinitis pigmentosa (3.4%), optic atrophy, phtisis bulbi, keratopathy (each 2.6%) and age related macular degeneration (0.9%). The other causes of low vision in decreasing order includes refractive error (15%), maculopathy (5.6), optic atrophy (3.8%), retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy (each 2.8%) and age related macular degeneration (1.9%). Majority of blindness is avoidable (93.5%), and found in the fifth and sixth decades of life.
Conclusion: Cataract and glaucoma are the predominant causes of blindness and low vision in the study population and majority of the blindness (93.5%) is avoidable. A more aggressive approach to clear cataract back log and improvement of early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma are needed to combart blindness in this community.