Blindness and visual impairment in Okoboh, a rural community in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State-findings from a one-day Rotary eye camp

Abstract

Background: The rising incidence and prevalence of poor vision and blindness in the world, especially among the rural communities in developing countries, has led to global initiatives against blindness in rural communities of the world. As part of its contribution in the global fight against blindness in the rural communities, Rotary International, a humanitarian global organization, encourages all Rotary clubs world wide to undertake annual eye-camps in rural communities as part of their community service. Aim: To report the findings of a one-day eye-camp by the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt south in Okoboh rural community in Abua/Odual Local Government area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods: The eye-camp was organized by the Rotary International Club with the help of volunteer ophthalmology resident doctors, optometrists and ophthalmic nurses. Each beneficiary of the eye-camp had detailed eye examination comprising, visual acuity, optical refraction, measurement of ocular tension (where indicated) and detailed ophthalmologic evaluation. Results: At the eye-camp, 165 persons were attended to. They comprised 56 males and 109 females (M:F=1:1.95).They had a mean age of 42.9± 15.9 years (range 2 to 72 years.). By WHO/IAPB criteria for visual assessment 13.6% of the subjects had low vision (VA