NYMC Faculty Publications

Evaluation of Community Eye Outreach Programs for Early Glaucoma Detection in Nigeria

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.2147/OPTH.S46823

Journal Title

Clinical Ophthalmology

First Page

1753

Last Page

1759

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Department

Ophthalmology

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relevance of community eye outreach programs in the early detection of glaucoma patients in southwest Nigeria.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study that was conducted among glaucoma patients referred to the eye clinic of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria, between January 2009 and December 2010 from different sources, including community eye outreach programs. The source of referral, stage of glaucoma, and visual field were recorded.

RESULTS: Six hundred and fifty-three patients were studied during this period. The mean age was 56.3 years ± 16.6 years, with a median age of 60 years. Patients referred from eye outreach programs were more likely to have mild to moderate disease than patients referred from other sources, who were more likely to have severe disease according to both the optic nerve head assessment (P < 0.01, Pearson's Chi-square = 10.67, odds ratio = 1.7 [confidence interval = 1.23-2.31]) and visual field assessment (24-2) (P < 0.01, Pearson's Chi-square = 6.07, odds ratio = 1.5 [confidence interval = 1.08-2.03]).

CONCLUSION: Community eye outreach programs appear highly useful in the earlier detection of glaucoma in sub-Saharan Africa.

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