Blindness and Visual Impairment in Adults Aged 50 years and Older in Ndele, A Rural Community In Rivers State, Nigeria

Community Ophthalmology

Abstract

Background: Ageing is described as a lifelong process of progressive changes in psychological, biological and social structure of a  person which no medical or surgical intervention can reverse or stop.1 An increasing ageing population is of importance in developing  countries such as Nigeria where life expectancy has increased from 48 years to 52 years currently.2 An increase in the ageing population implies an increase in dependency ratio, decline in the work-age population and increase in chronic illness and  blindness from age related causes. The result of surveys on the prevalence of blindness and low vision in several African countries such  as Uganda,3Tanzania4 and Nigeria5 also show higher prevalence with increasing age. Several community-based6,7 and hospital- based studies8,9 have highlighted the causes of blindness and low vision in Nigeria as well as a rise in prevalence and incidence with  increasing age; however, only few have focused primarily on the elderly. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and  common causes of blindness and visual impairment among adults aged 50 years and older in Ndele community, Rivers State, Nigeria.

 Methods: The study was a population based  cross-sectional descriptive study of adults aged 50 years and above in Ndele, Rivers  State, Nigeria conducted between February 2014 and April Study participants were selected randomly using probability proportion to  size of the six settlements in Ndele community. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used  to extract demographic  data; and medical and ocular history from each participant. Subsequently, participants had general and ocular  examinations including visual acuity, anterior and posterior segments examination, intra-ocular pressure measurement, and fundus  photography.