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Background Occupational predisposition to dry eye disease is known. Simultaneous exposure to multiple factors may pose more risk. Street sweepers are exposed to sunlight in addition to dust which all sweepers are exposed to. Tropical climate predisposes to significant exposure to sunlight. Combined exposure to dust and sunlight may lead to a synergy of factors. This study aims to assess the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) amongst Street sweepers and Office cleaners in Calabar metropolis. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among street sweepers and office cleaners. A systematic random sampling and multi-stage sampling method were used to select street sweepers (n = 115) and office cleaners (n = 115) respectively for the study. A pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information after which the respondents had an ophthalmic examination. An assessment of DED was done with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer’s test, and tear break up time (TBUT). OSDI scores of 33 and above; Schirmer’s test readings of Results The majority of respondents were females 215(93.5%) compared to males 15 (6.5%). The overall mean age of respondents was 40.96 ± 9.8 years. The average OSDI score, Schirmer’s test as well as TBUT among participants was 26.4 ± 16.0, 16.44 ± 9.52 mm, and 12.38 ± 4.53 s respectively. The prevalence of DED among Street sweepers was 35.7% compared to 20% among office cleaners using the OSDI questionnaire (p = 0.352). The prevalence of DED among street sweepers was 32.2% compared to 30.4% among Office cleaners using the Schirmer’s test. (p = 0.73) The TBUT reported a prevalence of 38.3% of DED among Street sweepers compared to 32.2% in office cleaners. (p = 0.48) Overall; the prevalence of dry eye disease among Street sweepers and office cleaners using OSDI score, Schirmers test, as well as TBUT were not statistically significant (> 0.05) Street Sweepers had higher odds of developing dry eye disease compared to office cleaners (OR = 2.085; C.I. =1.106–3.929; p = 0.02). Negative correlation coefficient was observed between TBUT and OSDI (rs = − 0.102; p = 0.125). This was not statistically significant. Conclusion Street sweepers had a higher prevalence of dry eye disease compared to office cleaners due to a higher risk of increased exposure to environmental factors such as dust, smoke, and sunlight. This effect is possibly due to a synergy of factors. Studies on dose-response are warranted.

Solar maculopathy occurs as a result of the effects of exposure of the macula to the harmful light spectrum from the sun. Phototoxic damage of the macula occurs as a result of the exposure to sunlight with some resultant visual deficit. The effect is common during a solar eclipse, where people directly watch the occurrence without sun‑filter glasses. Solar maculopathy is also known to occur during religious rituals, and in schizophrenic patients who stare at the sun. Clinical history, subtle clinical biomicroscopic, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings are the key in making a diagnosis. Management is conservative with OCT follow‑up. Solar maculopathy from nondeliberate sun gazing is not common. We report the case of a 24‑year‑old African who developed solar maculopathy after nondeliberate exposure to sunlight. Keywords: Maculopathy, nondeliberate, solar

Subconjunctival worm is a manifestation of ocular filariasis, one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) which constitute an important public health problem in Nigeria.The most commonly reported subconjunctival worm is loaloa which in some occasions is associated with the so called 'Calabar swelling'. However there exist few reports of ocular filariasis caused by Wuchereriabancrofti involving the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, and uvea with variable presentations. We report a case of a 31-year-old female, constitutionally asymptomatic patient who presented with Wuchereriabancrofti filarial worm encysted in the subconjunctival space.

Health-seeking behavior is important as it reveals the preventive, curative, and rehabilitative actions taken by individuals to rectify perceived ill-health.To identify existing eye health-seeking behavior, factors influencing such behavior, and suggest ways in which the system can respond to the needs of the target population in order to reduce visual impairment and blindness.This was a descriptive cross-sectional study; 600 respondents were interviewed using a semistructured pretested questionnaire administered to every fifth new patient attending the eye clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for a period of 5 months by a single interviewer. People unable to respond appropriately were interviewed alongside their caregivers.Poor distant vision was the most frequent ocular complaint in this study. The mean duration of complaint before presentation to any health facility was 370.65 ± 889.48 days with a range of 0-9,125 days. Nature of eye complaint was the most significant factor that determined how early respondents sought help (P0.001). Place of residence, nature of eye complaint, and employment status were significant determinants of the choice of place of first presentation for ocular complaints.There is need for improved eye health education and awareness for prompt presentation to an appropriate eye care professional at the onset of symptoms and even case finding for potentially blinding eye conditions.

To determine the trend in frequency and clinical indications of surgical removal of eyes in a tertiary eye centre in Calabar, Nigeria. This is a 10-year retrospective review of patients who underwent surgical removal of eyes in a tertiary centre. The clinical records were reviewed (between Jan 2001 and Dec 2010) for demographic data, type of surgery, and clinical indications. A total of 137 eyes were surgically removed within the study period. Of these 46 were children (

Purpose: This article reports a case of corneal injury following a splash from the sap of plantain stem. Case Report: A 54-year-old female presented with a history of plantain stem sap splash into her right eye of 7-h duration with associated ocular pain, tearing, photophobia, and blurring of vision. On ocular examination, visual acuity was 6/18 OD; slit lamp examination revealed a well-delineated fluorescein-positive corneal epithelial defect with associated mild stromal edema. Left eye examination was essentially normal. She washed her face and eyes with water immediately after the splash and further had eye irrigation by attending ophthalmologist on presentation. The patient was immediately commenced on prednisolone, moxifloxacin, cyclopentolate, and ascorbate eye drops and tetracycline ointment. Corneal edema resolved in 4 days whereas the epithelial defect was completely healed by day 12 and visual acuity was restored to 6/6. Conclusion: Although farmers are exposed daily to various types of eye injuries from parts of plants, this report highlights corneal eye injury following plantain stem sap splash in a farmer who did not use protective eye goggles while working in the farm and how prompt institution of treatment can sight loss and loss of corneal integrity.

Background: Corneal diseases are major causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in developing countries, unfortunately. Keratoplasty, which is a major treatment modality, is either nonexistent or at its infancy in these climes. Indications for penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and the short-term success and survival rates vary in different geographical locations. We sought to evaluate the indications and short-term success rates of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in a Nigerian Private Practice Setting in South South Nigeria. Patients and Methods: It was a retrospective audit of 12 patients that had undertaken PKP in the hospital by December 2017. Data obtained from medical records included demographic information like age and sex. Others included preoperative diagnosis, indications for surgery, and pre- and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of subjects. Other information included intraocular pressure pre- and postoperatively, levels of corneal clarity, presence of other ocular comorbidities, and documentation of preoperative graft failure risk assessments. All patients in the series had optical penetrating keratoplasty, performed by a single experienced surgeon for purpose of vision restoration. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.1 years, with a standard deviation of ± 15.5 years. The indications for PKP were bullous keratopathy seven (58.3%) and five corneal scars (41.7%). The etiological distribution was six patients with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, one patient was postuveitic bullous keratopathy, three patients were postinfectious corneal scar, and two patients were postmeasles adherent leucomatous corneal scar. Pre-PKP 10 patients (83.4%) were corneal blind on the affected eye and the corneal clarity grades were 2 patients (16.7%) in grade 0, 7 patients (58.3%) in grade 1, and 3 patients (25.0%) in grade 2. At 6 months post-PKP, three patients (25.0%) remain blind in the affected eye, two patients (16.7%) in pre-PKP blind category moved to SVI, one patient (8.3%) with SVI and five patients (41.7%) with blindness at pre-PKP had respectively moved to MVI, and one patient (8.3%) with MVI at pre-PKP had regained normal vision. At 6 months post-PKP, corneal clarity improved from grades 0–2 to grades 3 and 4, in 25% and 75% of the patients, respectively, compared to the pre-PKP grades 0, 1, and 2, in 16.7%, 58.3%, and 25.0% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, bullous keratopathy and corneal scar were the main indications for penetrating keratoplasty. The short-term (6 months) success and survival of corneal grafts were reasonably good.

Background: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in developing countries. Phacoemulsification is beyond the reach of many in these resources limited setting. Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) is a safe, low-cost, high-quality alternative. This is a review of outcome of SICS performed by trainee Surgeons during the first SICS training course in our centre. Patients and Methods: Eleven experienced Extracapsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE) surgeons from training centers across Nigeria were selected for a weeklong SICS training and conversion course. A review of visual outcome and complications of surgeries performed by these trainees on adult subjects is here reported. Results: Eighty-two eyes met the inclusion criteria. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Intraocular lenses were implanted in 80 eyes (97.5%). Visual outcome at 3 months post-operatively was good in 58 eyes (70.7%), borderline in 20 (24.4%), and poor in 4 (4.9%) subjects. The most common late post-operative complication, resulting in poor outcome was uncorrected aphakia in 2 (2.4%) eyes. Conclusion: The outcome did not meet World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations but was better than that reported for ECCE in the country. Conversion to SICS may not be difficult for competent ECCE surgeons as trainees achieved reasonable dexterity with acceptable post-operative outcome and complications profile in one week. To maximize patient safety and good outcome, a longer training period is recommended.

Background: Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness in developing nations. The objective of this study is to determine the severity of primary open angle glaucoma and audit health records of glaucoma patients in our center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case note search of glaucoma patients from out-patient clinic was carried out between January 2001 and December 2010. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and exact binomial 95% confidence interval (CI) calculated for the mean estimates. Results: Seventy-six patients (152 eyes), comprising 49 (64.5%) males and 27 (35.5%) females were included in the study. The age ranged from 15 to 88 years (mean: 54.2 ± 14.5). Forty-five (59.7%) presented with normal vision and 10 (13.2%) had visual acuity 0.6 0.9 = 35 (46.1%) and left eyes were 15 (19.7%), 29 (38.2%), 28 (36.8%), respectively. Mean intraocular pressure (right eyes) at presentation was 20.3 mmHg (95% CI, 17.4-23.3) and reduced to 13.4 mmHg (95% CI, 10.7-16.0) at the last readings while left eyes from a mean of 20.3 mmHg (95% CI, 16.9-23.8) reduced to 12.1 mmHg (95% CI, 10.0-14.3). The mean presenting CDR were 0.79 (95% CI, 0.74-0.83) and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.68-0.79) in right and left eyes, respectively. CDR showed statistical significance with age ( p 2 -test) but not with sex ( p = 0.807). Conclusion: Late presentation of glaucoma cases is a major problem in Calabar. We recommend public enlightenment, case detection, and early treatment to reduce ocular morbidity.