F.U Okafor

Background:Contrast sensitivity and depth perception are critical components of functional vision that extend beyond conventional visual acuity assessment. Myopia and hyperopia, as common refractive errors, are known to alter the optical quality of the retinal image, potentially affecting contrast detection and stereopsis. However, the degree and pattern of these alterations remain inconsistently reported in literature. Aim:This study aimed to compare contrast sensitivity and depth perception between myopic and hyperopic individuals with best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6, to determine the extent to which these refractive conditions influence visual performance. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among participants with diagnosed myopia and hyperopia attending the Optometry Clinic. Contrast sensitivity was assessed using the Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity Chart, while depth perception was measured with the Lang stereotest under standardized illumination and testing distance. Refractive status was confirmed through objective and subjective refraction. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests to compare mean contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity values between refractive groups, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The findings demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in mean contrast sensitivity among myopes compared to hyperopes (p < 0.05), indicating that myopia has a greater detrimental effect on contrast detection, particularly at lower spatial frequencies. In contrast, hyperopes exhibited relatively preserved contrast sensitivity but showed mild variability in binocular fusion responses. Regarding depth perception, myopic participants displayed poorer stereoacuity thresholds compared to hyperopic participants, suggesting that optical blur and aniseikonia secondary to myopic elongation may impair fine binocular disparity processing. No significant association was found between gender and either parameter, while age showed a mild negative correlation with both contrast sensitivity and stereopsis. Conclusion: The study concludes that myopia exerts a more pronounced impact on both contrast sensitivity and depth perception compared to hyperopia, even in the presence of full optical correction and normal visual acuity. These findings highlight the importance of including contrast sensitivity and stereopsis evaluation in routine refractive assessments to provide a more comprehensive understanding of visual function.

Nursing documentation is a critical component of professional practice, ensuring continuity of care, enhancing patient safety, and serving as a legal record of nursing activities. However, workload pressures often compromise the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of documentation. This study investigated the perceived impact of workload on ef ective nursing documentation among nurses in a tertiary healthcare institution in Benin City. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Using a stratified random sampling technique, 246 questionnaires were distributed to nurses working in various departments ofthe University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Out of these, 239 were properly completed and valid for analysis, representing a response rate of 97.1%. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents (89%) demonstrated good knowledge of nursing documentation. However, workload was perceived to have a high impact on documentation practices, with a grand mean of 3.1. Key factors identified included high patientto-nurse ratios, time pressure during shifts, emergency situations, multitasking, and lack of support staf . Challenges faced by nurses included inadequate staf ing, lack of training, absence of electronic health records, unavailability of documentation tools, and frequent interruptions. Hypothesis testing showed a significant relationship between knowledge of nursing documentation and perceived impact of workload (χ² = 6.785, p= 0.041). The study concludes that while nurses possess good knowledge of documentation, workload and systemic challenges
remain major barriers to ef ective practice. This highlights the need for organizational interventions to bridge the knowledge–practice gap. It is recommended that hospital management strengthen staf ing, provide adequate documentation tools, adopt electronic health records, and implement regular in-service training programs. Supportive supervision and clear institutional policies should also be established to enhance ef ective nursing documentation and improve patient care outcomes