The Current Status of Glaucoma and Glaucoma Care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Glaucoma is a serious and irreversibly blinding eye condition of public health importance in Africa. The absence of distinct early symptoms makes the condition hard to recognize by patients. The gradual vision deterioration that occurs is worse in one eye, thereby making it difficult for those affected to be aware of the vision loss until the advanced stages of the disease.

Glaucoma, "the silent thief of sight": patients' perspectives and health seeking behaviour in Bauchi, northern Nigeria.

Background: In Nigeria, glaucoma has a high prevalence and is the second cause of blindness among adults after cataract. People with glaucoma frequently present very late with advanced disease, and acceptance of and adherence to treatment is low. The purpose of the study was to explore how patients' understand and respond to glaucoma in order develop an intervention to improve adherence to treatment.

Prevalence and risk factors for lens opacities in Nigeria: results of the national blindness and low vision survey.

Purpose: Investigate prevalence and risk factors for lens opacities among a nationally representative sample of Nigerians aged ≥ 40 years.

Methods: Across 305 clusters, 13,591 adults were examined. Every seventh participant (n = 1722) was sampled systematically and examined in detail, including lens opacity grading.

Posterior segment eye disease in sub-Saharan Africa: review of recent population-based studies.

Objective: To assess the burden of posterior segment eye diseases (PSEDs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: We reviewed published population-based data from SSA and other relevant populations on the leading PSED, specifically glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, as causes of blindness and visual impairment in adults. Data were extracted from population-based studies conducted in SSA and elsewhere where relevant.

Prevalence and risk factors for hypertension and association with ethnicity in Nigeria: results from a national survey.

Objective: Non-communicable diseases are now a global priority. We report on the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors, including ethnicity, in a nationally representative sample of Nigerian adults recruited to a survey of visual impairment.

Methods: multi-stage, stratified, cluster random sample with probability proportional to size procedures was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of 13 591 subjects aged ≥ 40 years.

Quality of life and visual function in Nigeria: findings from the National Survey of Blindness and Visual Impairment.

Aims: To assess associations of visual function (VF) and quality of life (QOL) by visual acuity (VA), causes of blindness and types of cataract procedures in Nigeria.

Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to identify a nationally representative sample of persons aged ≥ 40 years. VF/QOL questionnaires were administered to participants with VA <6/60 in one or both eyes and/or Mehra-Minassian cataract grade 2B or 3 in one or both eyes and a random sample of those with bilateral VA ≥ 6/12.

The Nigerian national blindness and visual impairment survey: Rationale, objectives and detailed methodology.

Background: Despite having the largest population in Africa, Nigeria has no accurate population based data to plan and evaluate eye care services. A national survey was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and determine the major causes of blindness and low vision. This paper presents the detailed methodology used during the survey.