Journal Article

Background: Amblyopia is a condition that can result from visual deprivation in early childhood. It is a major cause of impaired vision in infants and young children. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, laterality and causes of amblyopia among children in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Methods: This study was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study of children aged 3-15 years, presenting at the Ophthalmology clinic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto State, Nigeria between January-June, 2022. Socio-demographics data were collected using questionnaire. Comprehensive eye examination were determined using paediatric Snellen charts, retinoscope and direct ophthalmoscope. Amblyopia was defined as two or more Snellen lines difference in the Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) between the two eyes, or a BCVA of less than 6/12 bilaterally in the absence of any significant organic lesion that could result in a decrease in vision. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Statistically significant at 95% confidence level were considered at P<0.05. Results: Of a total 108 children with mean age of 8.69 ± 3.75 standard deviation, males 59 (54.6%) were slightly higher than females 49 (45.4%). The prevalence of amblyopia was 12.9% (14), of which 64.3% and 35.7% had unilateral and bilateral amblyopia respectively. Sensory deprivation (42.9%) was the main cause of amblyopia. Conclusion: The high prevalence of amblyopia can lead to severe visual impairment in later life if appropriate measure is not taken early. Increase awareness on the need for early detection and correction of amblyopia will help ameliorate this burden.

Background: Visual impairment (VI) is a major public health concern that can have a significant negative impact on a child's education and quality of life due to inability to perform normal daily tasks such as reading, writing and recreation. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic characteristics linked to the visual impairment in school children in Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 201 participants in a descriptive cross-sectional survey, ranging in age from 6 to 19, were chosen at random from primary and secondary schools in each of Delta State's three senatorial districts. A thorough eye examination and a standardized questionnaire were used to assess the participants. SPSS version 28.0 was used to analyse the data, which were then displayed in frequency tables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, and all reported p-values were two-tailed. Results: Among the participants, 118 individuals (58.7%) were female. The prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in this study was 28.9% of which 69.0%, 22.4% and 8.6% had mild, moderate, and severe VI, respectively. VI was higher in females (16.9%) than in males (11.9%), and lower in primary school age group (8%) than the secondary school age group (20.9%). Socioeconomic characteristics, including parents' income, work status, and educational attainment, as well as gender and age group, did not substantially correlate with visual impairment (P> 0.05). Conclusion: The study found that children of parents with low educational status and unemployment were more likely to be blind or visually impaired, even though there was no significant correlation found between sociodemographic characteristics and visual impairment. Initiation of regular school eye screening program by governmental and non-governmental organizations is recommended for early detection, diagnosis, and management of visual impairment among school children.

Background. Contrast sensitivity (CS) is the innate ability of the eyes to discern any var-iation in luminance or brightness between an object and its background within a given space. CS is important for recognizing lane markers, road signs, and oncoming traffic while driving, especially in low contrast environments, such as at night or during foggy weather. This survey aimed to evaluate the risk factors and prevalence of CS impairment among drivers of commercial motor vehicles in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods. This study employed an observational cross-sectional survey of 341 drivers of commercial motor vehicles aged 20-70 years (with the mean age of 48.09 years ± 11.21 years) in Benin City. The sample comprised 326 (96.6%) male drivers and 15 (4.4%) fe-male drivers. The sample was selected using the purposive random sampling technique. The data was collected through the adjusted National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25. Pelli-Robson t est was performed to assess c ontrast sensitivity. Data was analysed using IBM-SPSS (version 29.0). Chi-square test was used to observe significant differences between CS and the associated risk factors. Results. The prevalence of impaired CS in this study was 21.7%. It increased with the increase in age from 7.9% among the age group 20-30 years to 4 8.0% among the age group >60 years. Higher educational level was found to correlate with decreased CS impairment. Conclusion. The high prevalence of CS in this study could be a threat to safe driving, especially in low contrast environments, if appropriate measures are not put in place to identify drivers with CS impairment. Routine CS assessment of drivers is recommended preceding the issuance of driver’s license and relicensing.

Purpose: Contrast sensitivity (CS) and stereopsis play significant roles in discerning variation in brightness between a figure and its background, including judging accurately the location of objects in the visual space. The purpose of this research was to ascertain the relationship between contrast sensitivity and stereopsis impairment among drivers of commercial motor-vehicles in the city of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 341 commercial motor-vehicle drivers aged 20 - 70 years with mean age of 48.09 years ± 11.21 standard deviation in Benin City Metropolis using a purposive random sampling technique was conducted. Data were obtained using adjusted National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionnaire. Pelli-Robson test was done to assess contrast sensitivity. Stereopsis was examined with TNO Random Dot Stereogram Chart. Data was analysed with version 29.0 of IBM-SPSS using Chi-square test and Pearson coefficient of correlation, and reported in tables and chart. Significance level was considered at Probability value < 0.05. Results: 341 commercial drivers that comprised 326 (95.6%) males and 15 (4.4%) females were recruited for the study. The prevalence of impaired contrast sensitivity was 21.7%. Prevalence of impaired gross and fine stereopsis was 18.8% and 83.9% respectively. There was a significant interrelationship linking contrast sensitivity with gross stereopsis (r = 0.202; P <0.01) and fine stereopsis (r = 0. 135; P <0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that stereopsis decreased with decrease in contrast sensitivity. Routine contrast sensitivity and stereopsis assessment of drivers are recommended prior to issuance of drivers’ license and re- license.

Purpose: Visual impairment (VI) being a state of physiological or pathological disorders of vision poses a burden on human activities globally. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of VI among school children in Delta State. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 201 respondents aged 6 to 19 years were randomly selected from primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Delta State. Participants were evaluated using a structured questionnaire, distance Snellen chart, ophthalmoscope, and torchlight. Vision status was defined using World Health Organization categories of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity (PVA). Data were presented in frequency tables, charts and analysed with Chi-Square statistics. All p-values reported were two-tailed and statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 12.30± 3.14 years, while 118 (58.7%) were females. The overall prevalence of VI (PVA of <6/18 in the better eye) was 58 (28.9%). The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe VI was 40 (19.9%), 13 (6.5%), and 5 (2.5%) respectively. Refractive error 47 (23.4%) was the leading cause of VI. The prevalence of VI was higher in females, children 13-19 years, and respondents whose parents’ income per month was >100,000. These observed differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05) Conclusion: Untreated refractive error was the leading cause of VI among school children in Delta State. This is an avoidable cause of VI that can be treated with spectacle prescription to ease the burden of visual loss.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence and driving-related risk-factors influencing prediabetes and diabetes in commercial drivers, Benin City metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria. Descriptive cross-sectional study of public transport drivers aged between 20 - 70 years (mean age 48.09 ± 11.21 years) was conducted in Benin City. Purposive-sampling technique was used to recruit 341 subjects into the survey. Structured questionnaires were administered to all participants to collect their demographic and personal information. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) values were obtained using ACCU-CHEK Active Model: GB 31041669 device. Normal, prediabetes and diabetes FBS values were considered as 70 - 99 mg/dL, 100 - 125 mg/dL and greater than 125 mg/dL, respectively. SPSS version 29 was used to analyse information obtained. Significant level considered was at probability less than 0.05. Majority of respondents were males (95.6%). Overall prevalence of prediabetes was 26.4%, and diabetes was 9.1%. The mean FBS was 99.90 mg/dl; the 50th and 75th percentile were 97.0 mg/dL, and 110.0 mg/dL respectively. Age, educational level, driving experience years, and daily driving hours were driving-related factors that significantly influenced prediabetes and diabetes (P < 0.05). High prevalence of prediabetes may progress to diabetes without intervention. Fatigue due to long hours of driving daily may be a predisposing factor to road traffic accident. We, therefore, recommend that driver’s unions should support commercial drivers to check their fasting blood sugar regularly.

Anaemia being a condition of low levels of haemoglobin in the blood is a public health problem that affects approximately 1.3 to 2.2 billion people worldwide. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and its association with anthropometric measurements among school children in Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a pretest-postest study of 201 primary school (age 6-12 years) and secondary school (age 13-19 years) respondents randomly selected from primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Delta State. Eighty-three (41.3%) males and 118 (58.7%) females with a mean age of $12.30\pm3.14$ years were enrolled in the study. The preventive intervention protocol consisted of a single dose of vitamin A, daily vitamin C, weekly vitamin E, and twice weekly ferrous sulphate supplements administered for five weeks. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected. Assessment of anaemia was done by pretest-postest haemoglobin determination. Results: The prevalence of anaemia at baseline was 38.3% and 0% post-intervention. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness at baseline were 7.0%, 14.3% and 15.0%, respectively, and post-intervention were 5.5%, 8.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight at baseline and post-intervention was 5.0%. The correlation between anaemia and underweight was $r = -0.399$, $p = 0.005$. The correlation between anaemia and body mass index was $r = -0.234$, $p < 0.001$. Conclusion: Nutritional deficiency could cause anaemia among school children. However, intake of antioxidant vitamins and iron might help to reduce the burden.

Introduction: Depth perception, referred to as stereopsis is the ability of the eyes to fuse two somewhat different images created by stimulating two distinct retina areas to produce binocular single vision. Impairment of depth perception is a suggested risk factor in road traffic injuries and deaths globally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of impaired depth perception and associated risk factors among commercial motor-vehicle drivers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 341 commercial motor-vehicle drivers aged ≥ 20 years in Benin City Metropolis using a purposive sampling technique. Socio-demographic data were collected using a selfadministered questionnaires. Depth Perception was assessed using TNO Random Dot Stereogram Chart. Data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 29.0. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 326 (95.6%) males and 15 (4.4%) females participated in this study. The overall prevalence of impaired gross and fine depth perception were 18.8% and 83.9% respectively. While 19.0% of males and 13.3% of females had impaired gross depth perception, 85.8% of males and 40.0% of females had impaired fine depth perception. Impaired depth perception increases with increase in age, years of driving experience and hours driven per day. Conclusion: The high prevalence of impaired depth perception in this study could promote occurrence of road traffic accidents due to inability to make precise judgment especially at near and intermediate distances. Routine depth perception assessment of drivers is recommended prior to issuance of driver’s license and relicensing.

The effects of blue light on human eyes, particularly from Light-emitting diode (LED) sources such as televisions, phones, and laptops, have been extensively studied to understand its implications. This review evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of blue-light exposure to the eyes, synthesizing findings from over 75 published works accessed through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Mendeley Reference Library. Blue light plays a vital role in night vision, colour discrimination, and non-visual physiological processes. It activates melanopsinphotopigments, essential for regulating melatonin, circadian rhythms, mood, memory, pupillary reflex, locomotor activity, and body temperature. However, exposure to the narrow blue-violet wavelength range (435±20 nm) can induce retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis. Prolonged exposure disrupts sleep-wake cycles, accelerates RPE cell degeneration, increases retinal cellular acidity, contributes to cataract formation, and causes digital eye strain. While blue light is not entirely harmful, prolonged and unregulated exposure poses health risks. Protective strategies include using blue-light filters, intraocular lenses that block blue light and blue-blocking spectacles, which can mitigate digital eye strain and phototoxic retinal damage. Also, antioxidants may counteract oxidative stress caused by blue light. The findings underscore the need for longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term risks and benefits of blue-light exposure and to develop targeted interventions for safeguarding visual health.

Introduction: Gas flaring is a vital environmental issue that has a negative influence on health of population that host natural gases and oil wells. Exacerbated risk of abnormal outcomes for pregnant women and newborn babies are of great concern in maternal and child health. The researchers aimed to examine how gas flaring impact acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in women that were pregnant and newborn babies. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey involving 483 pregnant women of reproductive age, antenatal caregivers and healthcare professionals at health facilities in Delta State Central Senatorial District. Using a multi-stage random sampling technique, a structured survey questionnaire was used to collect respondents’ RDS experiences and that of their new borne. Data were statistically analysed with the use of SPSS. Significant level was considered at P<0.05 Results: Among the 326 children recruited, 205 (42.4%) had experienced respiratory distress. Of the 483 women, 54% suffered from respiratory disease and 33% of the children had been admitted for respiratory distress on a weekly basis. While the age, educational level, gender, and marital status of women were not significant statistically with having children experiencing RDS, bearing children was statistically significant (P<0.001). Health professional reported that developing severe lung infection, release of black carbon and asthma sufferers were major risk factors to RDS. Conclusion: Findings showed that there was an increased prevalence of RDS among the study sub-population. RDS contributes more to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, hence it is important to address this public health issue