Abstract

Zelalem Addisu Mehari

To determine the prevalence of eye diseases and visual impairment among patients presenting outreach site in rural Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey for ocular morbidity among self selected patients during ophthalmic outreach campaign in Kersa town, Ethiopia, in June 2012 was conducted. A total of 214 patients underwent detailed eye examinations including visual acuity test, intra-ocular pressure measurements, anterior and posterior segment evaluation and refraction. A total of 214 patients were examined, where males comprised of 50.5%. Ocular diseases were quite prevalent among the study group. Conjunctivitis was the primary ocular morbidity accounting for 29%, followed by cataract (16.3%), presbyopia (15.4%), refractive errors (7.9%), Blepharitis 7.5%. Twenty four patients (11.2%) had uncorrected visual acuity of less than 6/60 in the better eye. The prevalence of visual impairment (VA less than 6/18) was 19.1% (41/214) in the study subjects. Eye diseases are common amongst rural Ethiopian community. Therefore, screening for eye diseases is important in identifying those patients at risk of getting blind and providing the right treatment to them and also give a chance to be treated for those who have logistic problems. The majority of the causes for ocular morbidity, visual impairments as well as blindness in the study were either preventable or treatable.