Abstract

SO.12.09

Prevalence of blindness and ophthalmic diseases in a remote rural tropical area – Screening of 1248 citizens in the Volta Region, Ghana

Frimpong-Boateng A.¹, Rüfer F.¹, Fiadoyor S.², Nkrumah-Mills J.², Kandzia C.¹, Roider J.^1
1Klinik für Ophthalmologie, UKSH, Campus Kiel; ²Volta River Authority Hospital, Akosombo, Ghana

Objective: Ophthalmic care may differ in secluded rural tropical areas from that in urban settings. The following study shows data of citizens from 8 villages in a secluded peninsula in the Volta river reservoir in Ghana, which can be only accessed by boat.
Methods: 1248 citizens were screened by 4 ophthalmologists, one optician and one ophthalmic nurse for eye diseases. After ophthalmic and general histories were taken, visual acuity was determined. Refraction was carried out on Patients with reduced visual acuity. The anterior segment was examined with hand slit lamps. After pupil dilation indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy was performed. The prevalence of eye diseases was calculated. Blindness was defined as visual acuity being 20/400 or less on the better eye, visual impairment as 20/200 on the better eye.
Results: 641 participants were female, 607 male. The mean age was 23.6±19.1 years. 5.4% had refractive errors. 94.6% were emmetropic, 2.2% were myopic, and 3.2% were hyperopic. The overall mean visual acuity for both eyes was 20/25 (log MAR 0.1±0.3). The prevalence of eye diseases were 17.5% Glaucoma suspicious optic discs, 8.3% pterygium, 5.0% vision impairing cataract, 3.8% presbyopia, 2.0% severe retinal disorders (e.g. Toxoplasmosis), 1.1% manifest glaucoma, 1% corneal scarring. 1.5% of the population were blind. 1.8% had visual impairment. Causes of blindness were 47.4% cataract, 26.3% optic nerve atrophy, 5.3% Onchocerciasis, 5.3% retinal detachment and 5.3% glaucoma.
Conclusions: The main cause of blindness was cataract. The second most cause turned out to be optic nerve atrophy. Opposite to industrialised countries only few refractive errors were seen, whereas glaucoma may be an underestimated problem in rural areas of Ghana.

Copyright: Porstmann Kongresse GmbH. All rights reserved. Impressum, Disclaimer.