Functional Low Vision Services in a Tertiary Hospital: Our Initial Experience

Aims: To describe our initial experience regarding the low vision services offered in our center, a tertiary eye hospital, pointing out the major causes of low vision, and types of low vision aids available in our setting.

Study Design: Descriptive, retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria between January 2013 and December 2017.

Methodology: We included 65 patients (42 men, 23 women; age range 4-81 years) with best corrected visual acuity < 6/18 in the better eye who were referred to the low vision clinic. Demographic data, visual acuity, indications for referral and types of low vision aids prescribed were extracted from their hospital records.

Results: The prevalence of functional low vision was 0.6%. The mean age was 47.04 ± 23.4, with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Glaucoma was the commonest cause of low vison followed by oculocutaenous albinism. Posterior segment disorders constituted the majority of cases seen. Telescopes and spectacle magnifiers were the most prescribed low vision aid.

Conclusion: The findings in our study are similar to those reported in other studies however the prevalence is low. There may be poor uptake of these services in our setting possibly due to lack of awareness of the availability of such services. It is hoped that these findings will guide in the planning and implementation of low vision services and the strengthening of the existing ones.