Abdulkabir Ayansiji Ayanniyi, Christianah Olufunmilayo Fadamiro, James BabatopeAdeyemi, Francisca Nkechi Folorunso, Stella Chioma Uzukwu
This study was aimed to report the common refractive errors among the Ekitis of south-western Nigeria. A population based survey of refractive errors. The selection criteria for refraction included complaint bordering on asthenopic symptoms and visual acuity worse than 6/9 that improved with pin hole or near vision worse than N8 at 40 cm but improved with test plus lenses. The study population comprised 123 (30.3%) males and 283 (69.7%) females with age range 14-92, mean 48.29. Presbyopia was the commonest refractive error and astigmatism the least. The commonest prescription was Plano add +1.50DS. The least age of presbyopia was 30. The range of hyperopic refractive power is, +0.50 to +12.00DS. The range of near refractive power is, +1.00 to +3.75DS. Most patients (66.5%) had presbyopic refractive power in the range +1.00DS to +3.75DS while 17.8% had combined hyperopia with presbyopia in the range +0.50DS add +1.00DS to +12.00DS add +2.00DS. The range of myopic refractive power is, - 0.50DS to -8.00DS. Myopia was commoner than hyperopia but, combined errors of hyperopia with presbyopia were commoner than combined myopia with presbyopia. There was no association between gender and refractive error (P=0.894) but there was between age and type of refractive error among the participants (P<0.001). Presbyopia was the commonest refractive error and correlated with the mean age of the cohort. The studied cohort was representative of the population. The refractive powers could be useful in making readymade spectacles for the community.
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