Prevalence of low vision secondary to eye injuries in South Eastern Nigeria

A retrospective study of the prevalence of low vision secondary to eye injuries in south-eastern part of Nigeria was undertaken. Data obtained from files in ten tertiary hospitals within the area showed that 394 cases of low vision due to eye injuries were found in the ten hospitals within a ten year period (1986 –2006). Frequency tables, bar charts and percentages were used in the data analysis. Contusion was found to be most prevalent eye injury causing low vision (62.4%), followed by laceration (14.3%), surgical eye injures (6.55%), assault (6.6%), road traffic accident (3.81%), chemical injuries (3.65%), foreign body abrasion (1.52%), eye injury of unspecified type (1.02%) while the least prevalent was radiation injuries (0.25%). Results further showed that the prevalence of low vision secondary to eye injuries is low in the area. These injuries are preventable and when they occur are treatable, hence effort should be geared towards enlightening the populace on the need to use safety devices at home and at work, children should be prevented from playing with sharp objects and when eye injury occurs, early attendance to an eye clinic is necessary to forestall any further damage.  Key words: Eye Injuries, prevalence, southeastern Nigeria