Impact of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)/International in a Nigerian Rural Community

Abstract

Background: The elimination of avoidable blindness and visual impairment requires enormous human and material resources supported by an enabling policy environment. The provision of a qualified workforce and funds for effective humanitarian clinics will address inherent gaps in the dispensation of primary eye-care services to rural and low income populations. This report highlights the oculo-visual anomalies observed in a Nigerian rural community during a humanitarian clinic.

Methods: Temperature check, registration, blood pressure check, case history, visual acuity check, external examination, direct ophthalmoscopy, refraction, tonometry and dispensing of drugs and spectacles were conducted by clinicians.

Results: Of the 186 patients examined, 42 (22.6 %) had pterygium, 35 (18.82%) had pinguecula, 20 (10.75 %) had conjunctivitis, 10 (5.38%) had glaucoma, 4 (2.15 %) had hypertensive retinopathy and 4 (2.15%) had dry eye. Ten (5.4%) patients had cataract in the right eye, 11 (5.9%) in the left eye and 78 (41.9%) in both eyes. There were 8 (4.30%) diagnosed of myopia, 18 (9.68%) with hyperopia, and 79 (42.47%) with presbyopia. Twenty-four (18.28%) required a distance correction, while 80 (43%) required a near correction. Thirty-four (8.28%) were referred for further eye-care, including those with high amounts of astigmatism or clinically significant anisometropia. Sixty (32.26%) were referred for high blood pressure management.

Conclusions: This report re-emphasizes the need for effective collaboration between optometry schools and volunteer optometric organizations in the provision of primary eye-care services for rural and low income populations in order to curb the enormous burden of oculo-visual anomalies and avoidable blindness.

Keywords: VOSH/International, Nigeria, Rural Community, Humanitarian Clinic.