Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Patients in Juaben Hospital Eye Clinic, Ghana

Department of Optometry and Visual Science, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana.

Corresponding Author: Derrick Owusu Ansah, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana, Tel: +233500016591 E-Mail: [email protected]

Received Date: 20 Jun 2017   
Accepted Date: 05 Jul 2017   
Published Date: 10 Jul 2017

Copyright © 2017 Ansah DO

Citation: Ansah DO. (2017). Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Patients in Juaben Hospital Eye Clinic, Ghana. Mathews J Ophthalmol. 2(2): 017.

ABSTRACT

Background: There is limited data on the magnitude of visual impairment (VI) and blindness in Ghana. This information is useful in planning preventive programs and improving on the eye-care services of hospitals to people in the nearby communities.
Purpose: To determine the prevalence and causes of VI and blindness among eye clinic patients at the Juaben Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among patients attending Juaben Hospital Eye Clinic from January 1st 2015 to June 30th 2015. Information on demographics, presenting visual acuity and diagnosis were obtained from patients’records. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16, USA was used for descriptive analysis. Chi-squared test was used to derive P values for statistical significance.
Results: A total of 1198 patients consisting of 52% females and 48% males were studied. The prevalence of VI and blindness was 28.2% and 3.7% respectively. Cataract, refractive error and glaucoma were the leading causes of VI while glaucoma and cataract caused the most cases of blindness. The age group most affected by VI was the 50-100 years group with 250 out of 338 cases and the same age group had the highest number of blind cases with 41 out of 44 cases. The number of females with VI and blindness was greater than that of the males.
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of VI and blindness especially among persons aged 50 years and above. Majority of the patients were visually impaired and blind due to treatable or preventable conditions. The study suggests that education, low-cost cataract surgical, and refractive services will reduce the rates of VI and blindness.

KEYWORDS

Visual Impairment and Blindness; Cataract; Glaucoma; Hospital-Based Study; Low-Cost Cataract Surgical; Refractive Services.