Population-Based Screening of Ophthalmic Disorders in a Cohort of Nigerian Army Personnel

Abstract

The prevalence of ophthalmic disorder among army personnel at the 82nd Division, Enugu, is comparatively high. Spherical refractive error and anterior segment disorders are the commonest ophthalmic disorders. These have implications for needs-based and cost-effective provision of eye care services to this military formation and probably to the rest of the Nigerian Army as well. To generate broad-based comparative data, future multi-centre surveys are warranted.

Profile of Ocular Disorders in the Military Staff in Parakou

“…The average age of the patients was 37.17 ± 12.62 years with extremes of 19 and 66 years. These results are similar to those of Eze BI et al, [4] in Nigeria in 2010, who found an average age of 36.6 ± 9 years and extremes of 19 and 63 years. On the other hand, Weichel ED et al, [8] had found an average age of 25 ± 7 years with extremes of 18 and 57 years.…”

“…These results are consistent with those of May F et al, [10] who had 83.9% male versus 16.1% female. They are similar to those of Eze BI et al, [4] who found 87.8% male and 12.2% female, and Vignal R et al, [7] who found 89.29% male and 10.71% female. Koki G et al, [9] had found a male predominance with a slightly lower prevalence than that found in this study, 76.5%.…”

“…Thus Vignal R et al, [7] in Kabul in 2007 had found a predominance of ametropias with 29%, followed by conjunctivitis (28%). Eze BI et al, [4] in Nigeria had found 22% ametropias and 19.6% conjunctivitis. Vignal R et al, [12] in 2009, among French soldiers sent to Djibouti, 59.3% had found ametropias.…”

“…[6] had found visual acuity far greater than 7/10th (82.2% for the right eye and 81.2% for the left eye). For Eze BI et al, [4], 86.6% of military staff had a visual acuity of far more than 7/10th. In contrast, Kikukawa A et al, [11] reported higher results than this study (94.1%); while Buckingham RS et al, [5] reported lower rates (64.7%).…”

“…Studies conducted among military staff have reported a high prevalence of eye diseases, ranging from 34.6 to 74.8 % [4,5]. These eye disorders are dominated by refractive errors, kerato-conjunctivitis and eye trauma [4,6,7]. These studies have been conducted around the world and regionally.…”