Prevalence and causes of visual impairment among teachers in Onitsha, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this article is to determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment among teachers in Onitsha, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Teachers were selected by multistage random sampling from 10 secondary schools in Onitsha. A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on each participant’s sociodemographic characteristics and ocular health. Ocular examination included distance and near visual acuity tests, external eye examination, refraction, and funduscopy. Results: Three hundred forty teachers consisting 63 males (18.5%) and 277 females (81.5%) were studied. The age range was 24 to 60 years; mean − 45.2 ± 7.4 years. The prevalence of visual impairment was 11.2%. None of the teachers were blind. The most common causes of visual impairment were uncorrected refractive error (55.2%), cataract (15.8%), diabetic retinopathy (7.9%), and hypertensive retinopathy (7.9%). Near vision impairment from presbyopia occurred in 79.1%. Conclusion: Presbyopia and refractive errors were the common causes of near and distance visual impairment, respectively, in the teachers. Annual eye examination of teachers will help detect early and treat the ocular problems that may militate against effective performance. The ocular health needs of teachers should, thus, be well accommodated in the school eye health program to ensure optimal productivity of teachers in the education sector.