Traditional eye medication: A rural-urban comparison of use and association with glaucoma among adults in Ilorin-west Local Government Area, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Globally, the last two decades witnessed increase in the use of  Traditional Eye Medication (TEM); and its use worsens the prognosis of visual outcome. This study assessed and compared the use of TEM and its association with glaucoma among adults in selected rural and urban communities of Ilorin-west Local Government Area, North-Central Nigeria.
Methodology: This was a comparative cross-sectional study. Respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire, and clinical report form were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: A higher proportion of the rural, 174 (38.7%) than the urban, 111 (24.7%) respondents knew about TEM (p<0.001). More of the rural, 83 (18.4%) than the urban, 78 (17.3%) respondents had ever used TEM (p=0.664). TEM known to the respondents in rural versus urban areas included camphor (47.1% vs 28.8%), personal urine (3.5% vs 2.7%) and salt-sugar solution (1.7% vs 14.4%) among others. There exists an association between the use of traditional eye medication and presence of glaucoma within rural (p=0.011) and urban (p<0.001) areas.
Conclusion: The use of TEM among the respondents was associated with glaucoma. While the association between glaucoma and uptake of TEM may not be causal, it provides a window of thought for further researches. There is need to strengthen awareness on the dangers of using TEM in the communities. Regular  community-based eye screening involving measurement of intraocular pressure will be useful in early detection of glaucoma.