Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in Nigeria is at a nascent stage and at th... more Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in Nigeria is at a nascent stage and at the moment there are no National guidelines for ROP screening in Nigeria. Thus it is desirable for screening programs to report findings amongst screened preterm infants in order to facilitate the development of national ROP screening criteria and guidelines. The aim of this report is to describe the frequency, severity and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm and very low-birth-weight babies screened within the first year of initiating an ROP screening program at a Nigerian tertiary facility. Methods: A cross-sectional study of infants born at less than 34 weeks gestational age; or with birth weight less than 1500g between May 2016 and May 2017. ROP screening examinations were performed by ophthalmologists with the use of an indirect ophthalmoscope, after pupillary dilation, in collaboration with the neonatology team. Information on gestational age at birth, b...
In this case-controlled study, electrolyte levels in Aqueous Humour (AH) and plasma, sodium/potas... more In this case-controlled study, electrolyte levels in Aqueous Humour (AH) and plasma, sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/ K+ ATPase) activity as well as intra-occular pressure were measured in normal, cataract and glaucoma participants as possible biomarkers of degenerative diseases of the eye. Three groups of age-matched consenting participants were recruited viz: Non-visually impaired Control, participants with Open-angle glaucoma (cases) and those with cataract (Negative control). AH fluid was surgically collected from glaucoma and cataract participants. Sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate levels were determined in plasma and in the AH fluid using ISE-4000. Red-cell membrane Na+/ K+ ATPase activity and plasma glucose were assayed spectrophotometrically. Blood pressure (BP) and pH were monitored in all participants using standard methods. Data were analysed using ANOVA and significance was at p<0.05. All participants were normotensive and normoglycaemic. Mean...
Methods: The review describes the method of mobile phone examination and the role in telemedicine... more Methods: The review describes the method of mobile phone examination and the role in telemedicine and teaching. Results: The pictures appear satisfactory for diagnosis and onward transmission for telemedical purposes
Is the rate of in-use ophthalmic medication contamination of public health importance? This appea... more Is the rate of in-use ophthalmic medication contamination of public health importance? This appears to be what the current situation is as shown by the report of investigators from the University of Cape Coast Ghana who found 94 out of 100 ‘in −use’ samples of eye drops collected from patients to be contaminated by a wide range of organisms including pseudomonas and aspergillus. This may justify the recommendation of single dose eye drops to ensure patient safety. However cost and affordability in low income countries remains an issue to contend with. Other important articles in this edition of the journal include a study which examined teachers’ knowledge attitude and practice related to pupils eye health and school based eye health services. The researchers reported that teachers’ knowledge attitude and practice related to pupils eye health and school based health services was poor and called for a structured workshop in schools to correct the knowledge gap of teachers.
ObjectivesRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian chi... more ObjectivesRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria.DesignDescriptive case study.SettingNeonatal intensive care units in Nigeria.ParticipantsStaff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria).Methods and analysisA WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was us...
Background: Retina diseases including the diseases of the macular are underreported in developing... more Background: Retina diseases including the diseases of the macular are underreported in developing countries of sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria. Method: A retrospective review of retinal register of cases presenting to the retinal clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan within 4 years (December 2015, to November 2019). Demographics and clinical data of all patients with macula diseases were retrieved. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences IBM (SPSS-IBM), version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA), and reported as frequency distributions and percentages. Results: A total of 1291 retinal cases were seen during the period under review, out of which 322 cases were diseases of the macula, representing 24.9% of retinal cases seen. The top 3 common causes of macular disease found in the study were dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) 63 (19.6%); Macula oedema 53 (16.5%) and Non-AMD atrophic maculopathy (from Retinitis Pigmentosa, chloro...
Purpose: To determine the subspecialty preferences of ophthalmology resident doctors in Nigeria a... more Purpose: To determine the subspecialty preferences of ophthalmology resident doctors in Nigeria as well as the factors influencing the choice with a view to provide useful insight into the future of ophthalmic practice in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among consenting ophthalmology residents in all the 23 accredited training institutions in Nigeria between July, 2015 and June, 2016. A semi-structured questionnaire with consent form was used to obtain information concerning socio-demographics, residency training information, awareness of ophthalmology subspecialties, subspecialty preference, and the reason for the choice as well as future practice plan. Results: A total of 198 (66.2%) out of the expected 299 ophthalmology resident doctors participated in this study. Their ages ranged from 27 to 51 years with a mean age of 34.4 ± 4.5 years. One hundred and ten (55.6%) participants were females and 157 (79.3%) were married. Anterior ...
Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in Nigeria is at a nascent stage and at th... more Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in Nigeria is at a nascent stage and at the moment there are no National guidelines for ROP screening in Nigeria. Thus it is desirable for screening programs to report findings amongst screened preterm infants in order to facilitate the development of national ROP screening criteria and guidelines. The aim of this report is to describe the frequency, severity and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm and very low-birth-weight babies screened within the first year of initiating an ROP screening program at a Nigerian tertiary facility. Methods: A cross-sectional study of infants born at less than 34 weeks gestational age; or with birth weight less than 1500g between May 2016 and May 2017. ROP screening examinations were performed by ophthalmologists with the use of an indirect ophthalmoscope, after pupillary dilation, in collaboration with the neonatology team. Information on gestational age at birth, b...
In this case-controlled study, electrolyte levels in Aqueous Humour (AH) and plasma, sodium/potas... more In this case-controlled study, electrolyte levels in Aqueous Humour (AH) and plasma, sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/ K+ ATPase) activity as well as intra-occular pressure were measured in normal, cataract and glaucoma participants as possible biomarkers of degenerative diseases of the eye. Three groups of age-matched consenting participants were recruited viz: Non-visually impaired Control, participants with Open-angle glaucoma (cases) and those with cataract (Negative control). AH fluid was surgically collected from glaucoma and cataract participants. Sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate levels were determined in plasma and in the AH fluid using ISE-4000. Red-cell membrane Na+/ K+ ATPase activity and plasma glucose were assayed spectrophotometrically. Blood pressure (BP) and pH were monitored in all participants using standard methods. Data were analysed using ANOVA and significance was at p<0.05. All participants were normotensive and normoglycaemic. Mean...
Methods: The review describes the method of mobile phone examination and the role in telemedicine... more Methods: The review describes the method of mobile phone examination and the role in telemedicine and teaching. Results: The pictures appear satisfactory for diagnosis and onward transmission for telemedical purposes
Is the rate of in-use ophthalmic medication contamination of public health importance? This appea... more Is the rate of in-use ophthalmic medication contamination of public health importance? This appears to be what the current situation is as shown by the report of investigators from the University of Cape Coast Ghana who found 94 out of 100 ‘in −use’ samples of eye drops collected from patients to be contaminated by a wide range of organisms including pseudomonas and aspergillus. This may justify the recommendation of single dose eye drops to ensure patient safety. However cost and affordability in low income countries remains an issue to contend with. Other important articles in this edition of the journal include a study which examined teachers’ knowledge attitude and practice related to pupils eye health and school based eye health services. The researchers reported that teachers’ knowledge attitude and practice related to pupils eye health and school based health services was poor and called for a structured workshop in schools to correct the knowledge gap of teachers.
ObjectivesRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian chi... more ObjectivesRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria.DesignDescriptive case study.SettingNeonatal intensive care units in Nigeria.ParticipantsStaff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria).Methods and analysisA WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was us...
Background: Retina diseases including the diseases of the macular are underreported in developing... more Background: Retina diseases including the diseases of the macular are underreported in developing countries of sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria. Method: A retrospective review of retinal register of cases presenting to the retinal clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan within 4 years (December 2015, to November 2019). Demographics and clinical data of all patients with macula diseases were retrieved. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences IBM (SPSS-IBM), version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA), and reported as frequency distributions and percentages. Results: A total of 1291 retinal cases were seen during the period under review, out of which 322 cases were diseases of the macula, representing 24.9% of retinal cases seen. The top 3 common causes of macular disease found in the study were dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) 63 (19.6%); Macula oedema 53 (16.5%) and Non-AMD atrophic maculopathy (from Retinitis Pigmentosa, chloro...
Purpose: To determine the subspecialty preferences of ophthalmology resident doctors in Nigeria a... more Purpose: To determine the subspecialty preferences of ophthalmology resident doctors in Nigeria as well as the factors influencing the choice with a view to provide useful insight into the future of ophthalmic practice in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among consenting ophthalmology residents in all the 23 accredited training institutions in Nigeria between July, 2015 and June, 2016. A semi-structured questionnaire with consent form was used to obtain information concerning socio-demographics, residency training information, awareness of ophthalmology subspecialties, subspecialty preference, and the reason for the choice as well as future practice plan. Results: A total of 198 (66.2%) out of the expected 299 ophthalmology resident doctors participated in this study. Their ages ranged from 27 to 51 years with a mean age of 34.4 ± 4.5 years. One hundred and ten (55.6%) participants were females and 157 (79.3%) were married. Anterior ...
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