Abstract

Singabele EJ, Sokolo JEE and Adio AO

Blindness negatively affects quality of life and leads to increased mortality. Available community based studies showed that three quarters of the causes of blindness majorly by cataract, is avoidable. This study was conducted so as to have hospital based data on cataract as a cause of blindness in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, (UPTH), Nigeria. The case records of all blind patients (visual acuity of less than 3/60 or corresponding visual field of less than 100 in the better eye with the best possible correction) presenting at the out patient clinic for year 2008 were reviewed. Of 214 patients, Cataract was responsible for about one third (n=82.38.3%). The age 40-60 years had the highest proportion of bilaterally cataract blind patients (40%). More males were bilaterally cataract blind (n=12.60%). Most bilaterally cataract blind patients lived in the rural areas (n=12.60%). The uptake of surgery was poorer among bilaterally cataract blind patients with only 30% (n=6) presenting for surgery. Cataract is a leading cause of blindness in the UPTH, Nigeria and is commoner in the older age group especially among males. The rural dwellers present late especially when bilaterally blind from cataract. Subsidizing the costs may improve the uptake of cataract surgery in our center.