Prevalence and Variation of Refractive Anomalies among Patients in the Bingham University Teaching (ECWA Evangel) Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

Abstract

This work set out to investigate refractive anomalies among patients in the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos. The results reveal how these refractive errors varied between male and female subjects at different age groups. A total of 950 subjects were examined for refractive errors; 531 males and 419 females. It was observed that 735 (77.37%) had various refractive errors. Myopia was observed in 373 (49.79%) of the subjects with the number of females being 204 (54.69%) making them more myopic than the males 169(45.31%). Hyperopia was observed in 385 (40.52%) of the population with the male being more hyperopic than the females 174 (45.19%).  Astigmatism accounted for 359 (37.79%) of the subjects with females being more astigmatic than the males 168 (46.80%). Presbyopia was observed in 404 subjects with males 240 (59.41%) being more presbyopic than females 164 (40.59%).The refractive error had its peak within the 60 – 69 age group. This pattern of refractive errors could be attributed to exposure to various forms of light particularly the ultraviolet rays (e.g rays from television and computer screens). This agrees with the report made by Cogan and Kinsey (1947) and Emina and Kio (1997).

Keywords: refractive error, ametropia, myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, visual acuity