Childhood Cataract in a Suburban Tertiary Institution in Southwest Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30442/ahr.1101-01-265Keywords:
Childhood blindness, Childhood cataract, Congenital cataract, Traumatic cataractAbstract
Background: Childhood cataracts, now replacing corneal diseases in Africa, including Nigeria, are a major cause of childhood blindness.
Objectives: To describe the pattern of presentation of childhood cataracts at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), a tertiary hospital in a suburban city in Southwest Nigeria
Methods: In a retrospective study, the case notes of all patients aged under 18 years presenting to the Eye Clinic of OOUTH over five years were retrieved and analysed.
Results: Of the 7311 paediatric eye cases seen during the study period, thirty-five (35) were childhood cataracts, giving a prevalence of 0.5%. Their mean age was 9.88±4.59years. The most common presenting complaint was poor vision, seen in 14 (40%) of participants. Traumatic cataracts accounted for 20 (57.1%), while only 11 (31.4%) took up treatment.
Conclusion: Traumatic cataract is the most common childhood cataract presenting to our centre, and there is poor surgical uptake, with more than three-quarters lost to follow-up. Regular eye screening of children, intensive health education, and promotion of subsidised eye treatment for children by all tiers of government will go a long way in improving early detection and uptake of treatment.
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