The Distribution of Presbyopia in the Eye Clinic of the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu

Objective: As few data on presbyopia among Nigerians is available, it was decided to review the distribution and characteristics of presbyopia in a Nigerian private eye clinic population. Methods: Patients presenting for the first time with symptoms of presbyopia in the eye clinic of the Eastern Nigeria Medical Center, Enugu were recruited. Standard methods of assessment of the refraction for both distance and near were used to arrive at each patient's presbyopic correction. Results: The mean age at first presentation with symptoms of presbyopia was found to be 39 ± 0.5 years; slightly earlier in females (34.9 ± 0.8 years) than for the males(42.0 ± 0.7 years); and a wide range of ages (25 to 78 years) at first presentation. The mean power of plus lens required by the patients was found to be 2.1 ± 0.1D (males 2.1 ± 0.2D and females 1.8 ± 0.2D) with a wide range of individual variation (1.0 ± 0.6D to 3.0 ±1.7D). Conclusion: Nigerian presbyopes at first presentation require higher power plus lenses than Caucasians of comparable age. There is a need for a study of a larger series to establish the Nigerian standards as results obtained from other populations may be inappropriate. The wide variation of required lens power noted emphasizes the need for the individualization of presbyopic correction rather than prescription based on assumed changes with age. Key Words: Presbyopia, Refraction, Presentation of presbyopia, Age at presbyopia Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.15(1&2) 2003: 32-35