Prevalence and causes of blindness at a tertiary hospital in Douala, Cameroon

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and causes of bilateral and unilateral blindness in the town of Douala and its environs based on data from the ophthalmic unit of a tertiary hospital in Douala.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective epidemiological survey of consultations at the eye unit of the Douala General Hospital over the last 20 years (from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2009).ResultsOut of the 1927 cases of blindness, 1000 were unilateral, corresponding to a hospital prevalence of 1.84% and 927 cases were bilateral, corresponding to a hospital prevalence of 1.71%. No statistically significant difference was noted between the two (P = 0.14). The leading causes of bilateral blindness were cataract (50.1%), glaucoma (19.7%), and diabetic retinopathy (7.8%) while the leading causes of unilateral blindness were cataract (40.4%), glaucoma (14.1%), and retinal detachment (9.1%). Cataract (51.2%), cortical blindness (16.3%), and congenital glaucoma (10%) were the leading causes of bilateral blindness in children aged less than 10 years.ConclusionBlindness remains a public health problem in the Douala region with a hospital prevalence which is relatively higher than the national estimate given by the National Blindness Control Program.

Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Fundong District, North West Cameroon: Results of a Population-Based Survey

“…This pattern of causes is in contrast with hospital based studies and populationbased surveys conducted in rural parts of Cameroon, where CSC was relatively low and cataract was the leading cause of blindness. 15,20 Another possible explanation of the dominance of posterior segment disease as a cause of blindness and VI in this study was that this area of Cameroon had been hyperendemic for onchocerciasis in the past. 21 The dominance of posterior segment disease as a cause of VI in this setting will require further investigation to elucidate the types of posterior segment disease that predominate and therefore define prevention and treatment strategies.…”

A Prospective Study to Evaluate the Incidence of Open Angle Glaucoma Vs Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma in a Tertiary Care Centre

“…In our study, mean of the age was 49 years , which is similar to other studies studies in the North Eastern region of Ghana (53.2 years), Nigeria (52.7 years), Cameroon (53.3 years) and Ethiopia (51.9 years). [19][20][21][22][23] The percentage of young patients diagnosed at or 16 before 40 years of age was 175(25.73%) in this study. This was slightly higher than the 23.6% reported in the North Eastern region of Ghana.…”

No Association between CagA- and VacA-Positive Strains of Helicobacter Pylori and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Case–Control Study

“…Although it remains controversial, male gender No association between CagA-and VacA-positive strains of helicobacter pylori appears as a risk factor for chronic open-angle glaucoma in the literature. 4,27,30 With regard to the average duration of glaucoma since diagnosis and the age of glaucomatous participants, we ensured that the diagnosis of glaucoma has been mainly confirmed in patients .40 years of age. Indeed, although glaucoma screening is recommended in melanoderm populations .40 years old, it seems to be already late when we consider the size of papillary excavations in our POAG group.…”

“…In a Cameroonian study, the late detection of glaucoma was found to be a leading cause of visual impairment. 4,30 Moreover, according to a hospital-based study by Ellong et al 4 , the prevalence rates of monocular and binocular blindness due to glaucoma were 8% and 32.9%, respectively, and Eballe et al reported that POAG was the second cause of blindness (monocular: 14.1% and binocular: 19.7%) behind the cataract. 30 The prevalence rate of HP infection in our series is comparable to that found in a Cameroonian hospital-based study (72.5%).…”