Causes of childhood blindness at ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.

The study aimed at identifying the causes of childhood blindness at ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano. The causes of visual loss in 31 consecutive patients aged < or = 16 years who attended the ECWA eye Hospital between 1993 and 1996, who had vision of < 3/60 in the better eye were recorded. The eyes were examined with a slit lamp or flashlight a loupe, and an ophthalmoscope. The intraocular pressure was taken with either a Schiotz or an applanation tonometer. There were 14 males (45.0%), the mean age was 6 years; range: 1 to 15 years. Corneal causes were responsible for blindness in 54.8%. Measles was responsible for 10 cases; neonatal infection was responsible in 2 cases. Four cases were due to lens lesions. By aetiologic category, childhood factors accounted for (32.3%). The causes in 51.7% were not known. Hereditary factors and perinatal factor accounted for 6.4% cases each. Intrauterine factors were responsible for 1 case. Eighteen (58.6%) of the cases were due to avoidable causes; 12(38.4%) being preventable and 6(19.2%) treatable. The causes of childhood blindness in this study are consistent with those of low economic region with high prevalence of avoidable blindness.