HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: iovs.08-3133v1 50/5/2033    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kyari, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kyari, F.

Prevalence of Blindness and Visual Impairment in Nigeria: The National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey

¹From the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria; the ²International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; the ³Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, Nigeria; and ⁴Vision Health Services, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.

PURPOSE. To determine the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment among adults aged 40 years in Nigeria.

METHODS. Multistage, stratified, cluster random sampling with probability proportional to size procedures was used to identify a cross-sectional nationally representative sample of 15,027 persons 40 years of age from all 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Distance visual acuity (VA) was measured with a reduced logMAR tumbling-E chart at 4 and 1 m. Presenting and best corrected visual acuities were recorded. Autorefraction was performed in all examined adults. Clinical evaluations included examination under dilation for those with presenting vision <6/12 in either eye.

RESULTS. In the study, 15,122 persons aged 40 years were enumerated and 13,599 (89.9%) examined. Prevalence of blindness (<20/400 in the better eye) and severe visual impairment (<20/200–20/400; presenting vision) was 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8%–4.6%) and 1.5% (95% CI: 1.3%–1.7%), respectively. Blindness was associated with increasing age, being female, poor literacy, and residence in the North. Participants residing in the South West had the lowest prevalence while those in the North East had the highest prevalence of blindness. It is estimated that 4.25 million adults aged 40 years have moderate to severe visual impairment or blindness (<20/63 in the better eye).

CONCLUSIONS. There is a high prevalence of blindness and severe visual impairment among those aged 40 years in Nigeria. Significant differences exist between the geopolitical zones and emphasis should be on ensuring eye services across Nigeria, which means that planning at the regional level is necessary.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J D King, N Jip, Y S Jugu, A Othman, A F Rodgers, D Y Dajom, E Miri, and P M Emerson Mapping trachoma in Nasarawa and Plateau States, central Nigeria Br J Ophthalmol, January 1, 2010; 94(1): 14 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Abdull, S. Sivasubramaniam, G. V. S. Murthy, C. Gilbert, T. Abubakar, C. Ezelum, M. M. Rabiu, and on behalf of Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment in Nigeria: The Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2009; 50(9): 4114 - 4120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]