Prevalence and pattern of strabismus in Ilorin.

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of studies devoted exclusively to strabismus in children.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence, and pattern of presentation of strabismus among a group of Nigerian school children.

METHODS

A cross sectional survey was carried out among primary school children in Ilorin South Local Government Area in Nigeria. Twenty-one public primary schools grouped into three zones of seven schools each were selected for screening using a cluster random sampling technique.

RESULTS

A total 7,288 children were screened (3766 boys and 3522 girls). This yielded 32 cases of strabismus (19 males and 13 females). Their age ranged from two to sixteen years (mean, 9.5 + or - 6.0 years). The prevalence of esotropia 0.14%. (95% CI, 0.029%-0.31%) and that of exotropia 0.14%. (95% CI, 0.13%-0.15%). Congenital estropia and accommodative esotropia constituted 50.0% and 18.8% of cases respectively while, exotropia constituted 31.3%.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of strabismus is low in the study population as has been found in other studied. Like most studies on strabismus; estropia is the most common variety seen.