Prevalence of eye diseases among school children in a rural south-eastern Nigerian community.

INTRODUCTION Vision has an essential role in a child's development, and visual deficit is a risk factor not only for altered visio-sensory development, but also for overall socioeconomic status throughout life. Early detection provides the best opportunity for effective treatment of eye and vision problems in children. Therefore, timely screening is vital to avoid lifelong visual impairment. There is a paucity of data regarding the causes of eye disease among rural children in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and causes of eye disease among children residing in rural communities in Nigeria. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and common causes of ocular morbidities in primary school children in Abagana, a rural community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. Children aged 6-16 years in all 8 primary schools were registered, interviewed and their eyes examined. Data were analyzed according to age, sex, type of ocular disorder and causes of visual impairment. Frequency and percentages were calculated with univariate analysis and parametric method. RESULTS The census population consisted of 2092 children, 1081 (51.7%) males, with a male to female ratio of 1.07:1. Ocular disorders were found in 127 (6.1%) of the population. The most common ocular disorders in this community were vernal conjunctivitis 61 (2.9%) followed by refractive error 14 (0.7%). Amblyiopia, which is avoidable, was the most common cause of visual impairment. CONCLUSION Study findings indicated that early detection through early eye screening; health education and access to a quality eye care facility will reduce the burden of eye disease and blindness among rural Nigerian children.