ABSTRACTBackground/objectiveskeratometry and corneal measurements differ among populations. The a... more ABSTRACTBackground/objectiveskeratometry and corneal measurements differ among populations. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of keratometric values and corneal astigmatism and examine the association with age and gender among normal Malawian adults.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted among Mzuzu university students in Malawi. Participants were selected using systematic sampling techniques. K readings were measured using a manual keratometer. Data was entered in SPSS v 26. Chi-square was used to assess association, spearman to assess correction, and an independent t-test to compare the mean.ResultsWe recruited 98 participants, of whom 59 (60.2%) were male and 39 (39.8%) were female. The Mean age of participants was 27.13 years (SD=5.616). Based on gender, it was 27.97 (SD=5.860) among males and 25.87 (SD=5.038) among females. But an independent t-test showed no significant difference in age according to gender(t(96)= 1.8, p=0.71). On average, the flat...
BackgroundThe population of older adults is growing dramatically. Sadly, this populace is highly ... more BackgroundThe population of older adults is growing dramatically. Sadly, this populace is highly prone to develop various ocular morbidities, which if left unattended can lead to blindness.AimTo determine the distribution of ocular morbidities among older adults at a secondary hospital in Malawi.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross‐sectional study conducted at Mzimba North District Hospital in Malawi. We retrieved 314 patient records from the hospital's ophthalmic outpatient registry from August 2020 to July 2022 using a nonprobability census sampling technique. Data entry and analysis were done employing SPSS (v.26).ResultsMore females 164 (52.2%) than males 150 (47.8%) had ocular morbidities. Cataract 108 (34.4%) was the most common ocular morbidity followed by allergic conjunctivitis 104 (33.1%), then pingueculae 44 (14%), and glaucoma 8 (2.5%) Cataract showed a statistically significant difference between males and females (p < 0.05). And Glaucoma portrayed a statistical...
Background: Globally, there has been a dramatic increase in the geriatric population. Sadly, this... more Background: Globally, there has been a dramatic increase in the geriatric population. Sadly, this populace is highly prone to develop various ocular morbidities. Aim: To determine the distribution of ocular morbidities among elderly. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Mzuzu Central Hospital in Malawi. We retrieved data from the hospital’s ophthalmology out-patient registry from January 2021 to December 2021. A non-probability census sampling technique was used to recruit 970 elderly patients. Data entry and analysis was done employing SPSS (v.26) Results: More males than females had ocular morbidities. Cataract 400 (41.2%) was the most prevalent ocular morbidity followed by glaucoma 189 (19.5%), pinguecula 48 (4.9%) and allergic conjunctivitis 43 (4.4%). Majority of patients were attended to in July. Outer segment diseases were common. The prevalence of cataract, glaucoma, refractive error and allergic conjunctivitis was significantly associated wit...
Background Globally, the usage of digital screens is on the rise. Students are among the most use... more Background Globally, the usage of digital screens is on the rise. Students are among the most users of smartphones in pursuit of academic endeavors. However, digital screens can increase the incidence of various ocular problems. Aim The aim of the study was to examine changes associated with accommodation parameters following the usage of smartphone use among university students. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Mzuzu University. We recruited 77 undergraduate students using a stratified random sampling technique. Then, we measured AF and AA before and after using a smartphone for 30 minutes while reading N8 optotypes held at 40 cm. We measured AA using the pushup method and recorded the result in diopters and AF using flippers and recorded cycles per second. We entered the data in SPSS version 25. Paired t-test was used to investigate pre and post-smartphone use measurements. We ran a person correlation test to analyze the relationship between age and change in ...
Clinical relevance: Diagnosis and management of vergence dysfunctions are largely dependent on no... more Clinical relevance: Diagnosis and management of vergence dysfunctions are largely dependent on normative measures of vergence parameters which differ across populations. Background: Globally Myopia is on the rise and vergence has been strongly linked to the development of Myopia. Understanding vergence parameters is key to mitigation of Myopia. Aim: This study aimed at evaluating differences in vergence parameters among university students in Malawi. Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among Mzuzu University students from September 2021 to March 2022. A total of 99 healthy participants comprising 62 males (62.6%) and 32 females (37.4%) were recruited using a stratified random sampling technique. AC/A ratio was measured using the gradient method, and Positive Fusion Vergence (PFV) and Negative Fusion Vergence (NFV) using horizontal prism bars recorded as blur, break, and recovery points. Results: The mean age was 23.37 ± 3.95 years (range; 18-33). The mean ...
Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, t... more Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, the literature reports varying values for the parameter. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish the cut-off blink rate value among Malawian young adults including the effects of sex and age on the parameter. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study recruited 98 participants, 50% male and 50% female. The age ranged from 17–45 years. The blink rate was measured manually by observing the number of blinks per minute. The average blink rate was 16.04 (SD = 6.417) blinks per minute. The Blink rate was not significantly correlated with age (P = 0.066) and sex (P = 0.8143). Our study confirms that blink rate varies according to geographical location as a factor of different weather conditions. Moreover, we found no age and sex-related differences in blink rate.
Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, t... more Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, the literature reports varying values for the parameter. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish the cut-off blink rate value among Malawian young adults including the effects of sex and age on the parameter. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study recruited 98 participants, 50% male and 50% female. The age ranged from 17–45 years. The blink rate was measured manually by observing the number of blinks per minute. The average blink rate was 16.04 (SD = 6.417) blinks per minute. The Blink rate was not significantly correlated with age (P = 0.066) and sex (P = 0.8143). Our study confirms that blink rate varies according to geographical location as a factor of different weather conditions. Moreover, we found no age and sex-related differences in blink rate.
ABSTRACTBackground/objectiveskeratometry and corneal measurements differ among populations. The a... more ABSTRACTBackground/objectiveskeratometry and corneal measurements differ among populations. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of keratometric values and corneal astigmatism and examine the association with age and gender among normal Malawian adults.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted among Mzuzu university students in Malawi. Participants were selected using systematic sampling techniques. K readings were measured using a manual keratometer. Data was entered in SPSS v 26. Chi-square was used to assess association, spearman to assess correction, and an independent t-test to compare the mean.ResultsWe recruited 98 participants, of whom 59 (60.2%) were male and 39 (39.8%) were female. The Mean age of participants was 27.13 years (SD=5.616). Based on gender, it was 27.97 (SD=5.860) among males and 25.87 (SD=5.038) among females. But an independent t-test showed no significant difference in age according to gender(t(96)= 1.8, p=0.71). On average, the flat...
BackgroundThe population of older adults is growing dramatically. Sadly, this populace is highly ... more BackgroundThe population of older adults is growing dramatically. Sadly, this populace is highly prone to develop various ocular morbidities, which if left unattended can lead to blindness.AimTo determine the distribution of ocular morbidities among older adults at a secondary hospital in Malawi.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross‐sectional study conducted at Mzimba North District Hospital in Malawi. We retrieved 314 patient records from the hospital's ophthalmic outpatient registry from August 2020 to July 2022 using a nonprobability census sampling technique. Data entry and analysis were done employing SPSS (v.26).ResultsMore females 164 (52.2%) than males 150 (47.8%) had ocular morbidities. Cataract 108 (34.4%) was the most common ocular morbidity followed by allergic conjunctivitis 104 (33.1%), then pingueculae 44 (14%), and glaucoma 8 (2.5%) Cataract showed a statistically significant difference between males and females (p < 0.05). And Glaucoma portrayed a statistical...
Background: Globally, there has been a dramatic increase in the geriatric population. Sadly, this... more Background: Globally, there has been a dramatic increase in the geriatric population. Sadly, this populace is highly prone to develop various ocular morbidities. Aim: To determine the distribution of ocular morbidities among elderly. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Mzuzu Central Hospital in Malawi. We retrieved data from the hospital’s ophthalmology out-patient registry from January 2021 to December 2021. A non-probability census sampling technique was used to recruit 970 elderly patients. Data entry and analysis was done employing SPSS (v.26) Results: More males than females had ocular morbidities. Cataract 400 (41.2%) was the most prevalent ocular morbidity followed by glaucoma 189 (19.5%), pinguecula 48 (4.9%) and allergic conjunctivitis 43 (4.4%). Majority of patients were attended to in July. Outer segment diseases were common. The prevalence of cataract, glaucoma, refractive error and allergic conjunctivitis was significantly associated wit...
Background Globally, the usage of digital screens is on the rise. Students are among the most use... more Background Globally, the usage of digital screens is on the rise. Students are among the most users of smartphones in pursuit of academic endeavors. However, digital screens can increase the incidence of various ocular problems. Aim The aim of the study was to examine changes associated with accommodation parameters following the usage of smartphone use among university students. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Mzuzu University. We recruited 77 undergraduate students using a stratified random sampling technique. Then, we measured AF and AA before and after using a smartphone for 30 minutes while reading N8 optotypes held at 40 cm. We measured AA using the pushup method and recorded the result in diopters and AF using flippers and recorded cycles per second. We entered the data in SPSS version 25. Paired t-test was used to investigate pre and post-smartphone use measurements. We ran a person correlation test to analyze the relationship between age and change in ...
Clinical relevance: Diagnosis and management of vergence dysfunctions are largely dependent on no... more Clinical relevance: Diagnosis and management of vergence dysfunctions are largely dependent on normative measures of vergence parameters which differ across populations. Background: Globally Myopia is on the rise and vergence has been strongly linked to the development of Myopia. Understanding vergence parameters is key to mitigation of Myopia. Aim: This study aimed at evaluating differences in vergence parameters among university students in Malawi. Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among Mzuzu University students from September 2021 to March 2022. A total of 99 healthy participants comprising 62 males (62.6%) and 32 females (37.4%) were recruited using a stratified random sampling technique. AC/A ratio was measured using the gradient method, and Positive Fusion Vergence (PFV) and Negative Fusion Vergence (NFV) using horizontal prism bars recorded as blur, break, and recovery points. Results: The mean age was 23.37 ± 3.95 years (range; 18-33). The mean ...
Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, t... more Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, the literature reports varying values for the parameter. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish the cut-off blink rate value among Malawian young adults including the effects of sex and age on the parameter. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study recruited 98 participants, 50% male and 50% female. The age ranged from 17–45 years. The blink rate was measured manually by observing the number of blinks per minute. The average blink rate was 16.04 (SD = 6.417) blinks per minute. The Blink rate was not significantly correlated with age (P = 0.066) and sex (P = 0.8143). Our study confirms that blink rate varies according to geographical location as a factor of different weather conditions. Moreover, we found no age and sex-related differences in blink rate.
Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, t... more Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, the literature reports varying values for the parameter. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish the cut-off blink rate value among Malawian young adults including the effects of sex and age on the parameter. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study recruited 98 participants, 50% male and 50% female. The age ranged from 17–45 years. The blink rate was measured manually by observing the number of blinks per minute. The average blink rate was 16.04 (SD = 6.417) blinks per minute. The Blink rate was not significantly correlated with age (P = 0.066) and sex (P = 0.8143). Our study confirms that blink rate varies according to geographical location as a factor of different weather conditions. Moreover, we found no age and sex-related differences in blink rate.
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