ABSTRACT

This was the study of the ocular problems suffered by inhabitants of remote village in Nigeria using Egor-Eguare as a case study. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of ocular defects according to age groups, gender and occupation in Egoro-Eguare community in Edo state. A total of 240 inhabitants consisting of 150 (62.5%) males and 90 (37.5%) females were examined .The age distribution showed that there were more youths in the population. There were more male farmers than females. The ocular problems observed in Egoro-Eguare were Optic atrophy 21 (8.75%) Choroid-retinitis 4 (1.7%) Uveitis 1 (0.4%) Sclerosing keratitis 2 (0.8%)

Pathological cupping 2 (0.8%) Matured cataract 16 (6.7%) Immature cataract 34 (14.2%) Conjunctivitis 19 (7.9%) and Pterygium 29 (12.1%). Low vision was observed in 35 (14.6%) Reduced vision in85 (35.4%) and Total blindness in 1 (0.42%) of the inhabitants. The prevalence rate of total blindness was 1.5 per 1000 inhabitants. It was observed from the questionnaires that 121 (50.4%)of the inhabitants attended eye clinic for their eye problems. Males were found to be more hyperopic more than females who where found to be more myopic. The study revealed that the ocular problems present in the community were mainly due to age and not necessarily the result of their occupation nor the effect of Onchocerciasis that was previously present in the community. The observed ocular problems were therefore not independent of age but independent of occupation hence the need to annually monitor the ocular health of the community from time to time particularly with the present mass distribution of Ivermectin and it would create the awareness of the need to see an eye care practitioner whenever any ocular discomfort is experienced.