Non-traumatic Ocular Findings in Industrial Technical Workers in Delta State, Nigeria

PURPOSE

To determine the pattern of non-traumatic ocular disorders in industrial technical workers in the Delta state, Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of the pattern of non-traumatic ocular disorders among industrial technical workers in 3 factories in Ughelli North local Government Area of Delta state, Nigeria was conducted between February, 2002 and May, 2002. In addition to the demographic, the workers were studied for the presence of any non-trauma related ocular findings. Visual acuity of these workers was obtained as well as ocular examination was performed by using the Snellen's chart, pen torch, ophthalmoscope, Perkins hand-held tonometer, Ishihara plates. Patients were refracted if their visual acuity was less than normal.

RESULTS

Five hundred technical workers were screened that included 200 (40%) from the construction industry, 180 (36%) from the rubber factory and 120(24%) from the oil mill. All the workers studied were males. Ocular disorders were seen in 664 (66.4%) of the eyes. The most common ocular disorders were pingueculum 215 (21.5%), presbyopia 97 (9.7%), refractive error 94 (9.4%), pterygium 86 (8.6%) and chronic conjunctivitis 45 (4.5%). None of the workers was blind from non-traumatic causes. Only 36 (7.2%) workers wore any protective eye devices at work.

CONCLUSION

Non-traumatic ocular disorders are common in the industrialized technical workers in the Delta state of Nigeria. The use of protective eye devices is low in these workers and suggests that measures to implement ocular safety should be undertaken in these industries.

A review of the risk factors in primary open angle glaucoma

The aetiology of primary open-angle glaucoma is still uncertain. However certain factors are known or suspected of having an aetiologic role. These are known as the risk factors. These include higher intraocular pressures, black race, old age especially after the age of 40 years, the peculiar larger optic disc structure of black people, a positive family history, vascular factors such as systemic hypertension, perfusion pressure, vasospasm, atherosclerosis and acute hypotension which is a risk factor for normal-tension glaucoma. Others are diabetes, which is prone to selection bias, myopia, a history of typical migraine headaches, thinner central corneal thickness and the ability to taste phenylthiourea. If a particular patient is identified as having one or more of these risk factors, that patient is by definition, at greater risk of developing glaucoma than a patient who does not.

Bilateral total loss of vision following eclampsia--a case report

Visual loss following eclampsia is usually reported to be a result of retinopathy, exudative retinal detachment or cortical blindness. This paper reports the case of a 31-year-old para 5 + 0 housewife who developed bilateral visual loss following eclampsia and presented to the ophthalmologist four weeks later with a vision of light perception in both eyes. Examination showed evidence of hypertensive retinopathy. Convinced that the ocular findings were not responsible for such marked visual loss, she was commenced on systemic, topical and sub-conjunctival injection of steroids, acetazolamide and multivitamins. Her vision improved progressively to 6/6 right eye and 6/9 left eye after three weeks. Obstetricians are advised to refer cases of visual loss following eclampsia promptly to the ophthalmologist who should in turn manage aggressively with systemic, topical and sub-conjunctival steroids.

Orbitocephalic metastases from neuroblastoma: report on three cases

Three unusual cases of Neuroblastoma with metastasis to the skull and orbit are presented. The bizarre clinical features which make diagnosis and subsequent management difficult are highlighted, suggesting the need for a multi-disciplinary approach.