African Journal of
Medical and Health Sciences

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA
  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Med. Health Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2384-5589
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMHS
  • Start Year: 2017
  • Published Articles: 80

Full Length Research Paper

Pattern of refractive errors in persons with albinism in two states of North-Western Nigeria

Sadiq Hassan
  • Sadiq Hassan
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital/Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
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Saudat G. Habib
  • Saudat G. Habib
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital/Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
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Philips I. Ebisike
  • Philips I. Ebisike
  • Department of Optometry, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital/Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
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Rabi Y. Sani
  • Rabi Y. Sani
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital/Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
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Eiman Bashir
  • Eiman Bashir
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital/Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
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Saudat M. Umar
  • Saudat M. Umar
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe/Gombe State University, Gombe State, Nigeria.
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Abdu Lawan
  • Abdu Lawan
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital/Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
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  •  Received: 17 February 2021
  •  Accepted: 13 September 2021
  •  Published: 31 October 2021

Abstract

Albinism is a heterogenous group of disorders of melanin synthesis or distribution that is genetically inherited. Refractive errors are common in participants with albinism and high values have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of refractive errors in people living with albinism in North-Western Nigeria. This was a prospective hospital-based study, carried out over 12 months from April 2017-March 2018 (12 months) whereby persons with albinism from Kano and Jigawa states were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical review board of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. A structured proforma was used to record findings of history, examination and subjective and objective refraction were measured for each patient. Data was analysed using the statistical software SPSS version 20.0. A total of 61 participants with 122 eyes were examined. There were 32 males and 29 females (M: F= 1:1.1). Their ages ranged from 19 months to 60 years with a mean age of 16.77 ± 12.82 years. The pattern of refractive errors was hypermetropic astigmatism (38.90%), myopic astigmatism (30.60%), hypermetropia (8.30%) and mixed astigmatism (4%). Refractive errors are common in participants with albinism. In this study hypermetropic astigmatism is the most common refractive error.

Key words: Albinism, pattern, refractive error.