AIM: To assess the ocular health status of eye health workers in a tertiary public eye hospital in Nigeria.

METHODS: This is a cross sectional hospital-based study in which a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect basic demographic data from the participating staff. Comprehensive ocular examination including presenting visual acuity with glasses if available, details anterior segment and posterior segment evaluations were performed in each patient as well as intraocular pressure measurement using Goldman Applanation Tonometer. People with evidence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy or peripheral anterior chamber depth less 25% of the corneal thickness had gonioscopy performed on them. People suspected to have glaucoma had Central Visual Field analysis(24-2, SITA Standard).Vision was categorised based on WHO classification of visual impairment.

RESULTS: A total of 275 health workers were screened, out of which 176(64%)were non-clinical staff. Overall 166(60.4%)of the respondents were males and 13.1% had family history of ocular disease. Majority of the respondents(86.2%)have normal vision(presenting visual acuity of 6/18-6/6), however 1.5% have severe visual impairment. There were more females with severe visual impairment(3.7% vs 0%)(P=0.018). However, we observed no significant difference in vision between the clinical and non-clinical staff(P=0.41).The mean cup-disc ration(CDR)in the right and the left eye were 0.42 and o.45 respectively. No significant difference between the RE and LE CDR(t=-0.882, P=0.37). The mean intraocular pressure in the RE and LE were 14.1 and 14.0mmHg. Weak positive correlation was observed between left IOP and left CDR(Pearson coefficient=0.008, P=0.94). Presbyopia and refractive error were the commonest ocular morbidities discovered among the screened staff. Fourteen respondents(5.1%)have primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)and 47 were classified as glaucoma suspects.

CONCLUSION: Uncorrected refractive errors, cataract and glaucoma are the common ocular morbidities responsible for visual impairment among the eye health workers. This study underscores the need for periodic staff screening to enable prompt diagnosis and timely treatment of ocular diseases in the affected staff.