EYE DISEASE IN AN ONCHOCERCIASIS-ENDEMIC AREA OF THE FOREST-SAVANNA MOSAIC REGION OF NIGERIA

In a forest-savanna mosaic zone of south-eastern Nigeria endemic for o nchocerciasis, we identified eye disorders in 65.5% of a randomly sele cted population sample. Onchocerciasis-related eye disease was present in 13.7% of the study sample and constituted 21% of the total number of eye disorders. A total of 78 (33.2%) of 235 subjects with visual im pairment had onchocerciasis-related eye lesions, and of 35 who were bl ind in both eyes, onchocerciasis-induced eye disease was the cause in 28 (80%). The prevalence of bilateral blindness from all causes in the study area was 4.1%, while that from onchocerciasis-related causes wa s 3.3%. The commonest onchocerciasis-induced lesions that were respons ible for visual impairment and blindness were choroidoretinitis and op tic nerve disease. Sclerosing keratitis, an important causative lesion in onchocerciasis-endemic savanna regions, was encountered only once. Eye disease is therefore an important feature of onchocerciasis in th e forest-savanna mosaic areas of Nigeria and should be borne in mind w hen planning and executing control programmes.