Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the distribution of uncorrected refractive errors and ocular pathology encountered during out reach clinics by Vision Aid Overseas in Malawi, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.
Methods: :
Data from outreach clinics in Malawi, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso was reviewed to assess the distribution of refractive errors and the ocular pathologies. Data from outreach clinics in Malawi and Ethiopia was reviewed to assess the distribution of refractive errors and the ocular pathologies.
Results: :
Since 2002 there have been 12 projects to Malawi. A total of 13,091 patents were examined and 9,861 pairs of spectacles were dispensed. Of those patients dispensed 78.3% were prescribed positive lenses and 21.7% negative lenses (including corrections for hyperopia, myopia and presbyopia). A total of 85% of mean spherical corrections were between -3.00 and +3.00 DS. There have been 10 projects to Burkino Faso since 2006; a total of 38,014 patients examined and 29,563 spectacles dispensed (77%). Of those patients dispensed 84% were prescribed positive lenses and 21.7% negative lenses. A total of 81% of mean spherical corrections were between -3.00DS and +3.00 DS. A total of 29,474 patients were examined and 25,168 pairs of spectacles were dispensed in Ethiopia between 2007 to 2011. Of those patients dispensed 82.5% were prescribed positive lenses and 17.5% negative lenses . A total of 74.9% of mean spherical corrections were between -.300 and +3.00 DS.Presbyopic corrections were required by the majority of patients (approximately 55-70%). Ocular pathologies were present in 30% of patients seen in Burkino Faso, and the three major causes were cataract (52.5%), corneal abnormalities (14.2 %) and glaucoma (7%). Similar findings were observed for Malawi and Ethiopia.
Conclusions: :
The distributions of prescriptions were similar between the countries, but it was interesting to note a greater % of high myopes (<-8.00D) were seen in Ethiopia compared with Burkina Faso and Malawi (4.2%, 0.35%, 0.94% respectively). The majority of patients seen required corrections for presbyopia and the major causes of ocular pathology were also similar between the countries being cataract, corneal abnormalities and glaucoma.
Keywords: refraction • low vision • presbyopia