Prevalence of Refractive Error and Attitude to Spectacle Use Among Drivers of Public Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria

Poor vision is associated with a high rate of motor vehicle accidents. This article reports on a study undertaken to determine the prevalence of refractive errors and the attitude to spectacle wear among drivers from two different public institutions in Nigeria. The study included a cross-sectional population of all 99 motor vehicle drivers from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria and University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria between December 2003 and January 2004. The participants were all males, aged 38 to 60 years, with 67 men (67.7%) from the College of Medicine, and 32 men (32.3%) from the UCH. The proportion of drivers found to have refractive errors in their eyesight was 16.7% but only just over half (56.3%) of these drivers wear glasses while driving. The relative frequency of road traffic accidents (RTA) among drivers was 16.2%; the risk was marginally higher among drivers with refractive error. The majority (97.7%) of the drivers were presbyopic (farsighted) but only 32 (32.3%) were current wearers of eyeglasses. The authors conclude by calling for periodic visual screenings and eye health education for drivers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15963519
• Authors:
  • Bekibele, C O
  • Fawole, OI
  • Bamgboye, A E
  • Adekunle, LV
  • Ajayi, R
  • Baiyeroju, A M
• Publication Date: 2007-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 26-30
• Serial:
  • Annals of African Medicine
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital
  • ISSN: 1596-3519

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Automobile drivers; Crashes; Eyeglasses; Refraction; Risk assessment; Vision disorders
• Geographic Terms: Ibadan (Nigeria)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01095569
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 28 2008 9:33AM