FREQUENCY AND PATTERN OF EYE DISEASES AMONG PRISONERS IN BENIN CITY (A SURVEY OF OKO PRISONS, BENIN CITY)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
A survey was carried out between June and November 2004 at Oko prisons, Benin City to determining the frequency and pattern of eye problems among the prisoners. The causes of visual impairment and blindness were also identified. This was with a view to planning eye care programme for the prisoners.
METHOD
It was a cross –sectional study in which all six hundred prisoners at Oko prisons were interviewed and examined for the study.
MAIN FINDING/RESULT
The survey revealed that 399 out of 600 prisoners (66.5%) had eye problems.
The five most common ocular conditions seen were refractive errors (22.2%), allergic conjunctivitis (14.0%), presbyopia (13.2%), glaucoma (10.8%), and maculopathy (10.6%). Twenty –six inmates (4.3%) had visual impairment, sixteen (2.6%) prisoners had monocular blindness, while 2 inmates (0.3%) were blind bilaterally. Refractive error was the commonest cause of visual impairment.
Cataract (mainly traumatic cataract) was the commonest cause of monocular blindness, while bilateral blindness was from optic atrophy and maculopathy.
RECOMMENDATION
Frequency and pattern of Eye diseases among prisoners in Benin City (A survey of Oko prison, Benin city).
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There is a need for the prison authorities to plan an accessible ophthalmic service for prisoners, train some primary eye care workers, and organize health education for warders and inmates with the aim of preventing trauma and its sequlae, blindness from glaucoma and other blinding diseases.

FREQUENCY AND PATTERN OF EYE DISEASES AMONG PRISONERS IN BENIN CITY (A SURVEY OF OKO PRISONS, BENIN CITY)