Prevalence of Age-Related Cataracts Among Patients Utilizing Eye Services in Cross River State Eye Care Programme, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Its prevalence in the area of study needs to be assessed due to the unawareness of older adults, who need to identify the risk factors and access to cataract services. Aims: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of age-related cataracts between 2019 and 2022 among patients attending the Cross River State Eye Care clinic in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: The study utilized a retrospective research design. The case notes of 200 patients aged 50 years and above who attended the clinic during the period under study were reviewed. Relevant data was extracted from the patients’ folders into a checklist and was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage). Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis. Findings: The result of the data analysed showed that most of the study participants (41%) were in the age range of 71 years and above. There were more females (51%) than males in the study. The prevalence of cataracts was 68%. The prevalence rate was higher in females (70.6%) than males (65.3%). A chi-square analysis of the hypothesis showed that the calculated X2 value of 25.92 is far greater than the critical X2 value of 5.99 at a 0.05 level of significance. The null hypothesis was therefore rejected, implying a significant relationship between gender and age-related cataracts. Conclusion: The high prevalence of cataracts recorded in this study highlights the need for nurses to ask about the state of vision of their patients during the initial assessment of all patients on first contact with the health facility. If this is done, patients who complain of decreased vision can be arranged to be evaluated accordingly. Recommendation: Based on these findings, eye screening, health promotion, and health education on the availability and utilization of cataract services should be considered a routine part of healthcare services.