advertisement
Abstract #52072 Published in IGR 14-4
Visual Acuity of commercial motor drivers in Ogun State of Nigeria
Onabolu OO; Bodunde OT; Otulana TO; Ajibode HA; Awodein OG; Onadipe OJ; Jagun OAThe Nigerian postgraduate medical journal 2012; 19: 225-229
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To objectively assess the visual acuity of commercial motor drivers (CMD) in 3 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Ogun State of Nigeria in order to determine their eligibility to drive. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The visual acuities of CMDs in 3 LGAS of Ogun state in Nigeria (selected using a multistage sampling technique) were tested with Snellens acuity charts and the eyes examined with bright pen torches and ophthamoscopes. Visual acuity 6/12 or better in the worse eye was taken as adequate to obtain a driving license. The drivers with worse visual acuities were further examined to find the cause of decreased vision. RESULTS: The visual acuities of 524 drivers were determined and analyzed. Their ages ranged from 19-66 years with a mean of 46.8 ±7.2 years. Two hundred and twenty (41.9%) of the drivers were between 40 and 49 years old. Four hundred and four (77.1%) did not have any form of eye test prior to this study. Four hundred and sixty three drivers (88.4%) were eligible to drive while 61 drivers (11.6%) were not eligible. Decreased visual acuity was caused by refractive error in 22(36.1%), cataract in 19(31.2%), glaucoma in 12(19.7%), corneal scar in 5(8.2%) and posterior segment lesions in 3(4.9%). CONCLUSION: OBJECTIVE: assessment of vision should be an essential component of licensure. Middle aged and elderly drivers are prone to age related ocular diseases and require reassessment of visual status every 3 years when licenses are renewed.
Department of Ophthalmology, Olabisi Onabanjo UniversityTeaching Hospital, Sagamu,Ogun state Nigeria.
Classification:
1.5 Glaucomas as cause of blindness (Part of: 1 General aspects)
