Oculovisual problems in Alayi community Ofabia State, Nigeria

Five hundred and eight seven subjects aged between 18 and 73made up of 229 males and 358 females were seen during a community outreach clinic exercise carried out by the Department of Optometry,Abia State University Uturu. A battery of optometric tests such as case history, Snellen's visual acuity tests, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry and penlight were carried out. Data analysis showed that 192 (32.71%) subjects of the total number of those who presented themselves for eye examination had cataracts, 97 (16.52%) had allergic conjunctivitis. Other ocular problems discovered were refractive errors (19; 3.24%), presbyopia (69; 11.75%), glaucoma (72; 12.27%), bacterial conjunctivitis (41; 6.98%), Agerelated Macular Degeneration (28; 4.77%, Low vision (28; 4.77%), eye injuries (25; 4.26%), and corneal opacities (6; 2.73). It is suggested that eye care services be made available to people in the rural areas and proper awareness created on ocular protection and hygiene.