Systemic co-morbidities as a barrier to uptake of cataract surgery in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Barriers to uptake of cataract surgery in a developing country like Nigeria are numerous, most researches focus on patient related factor like financial constraint however this study aims to assess the systemic co-morbidities that act as a barrier to uptake of cataract surgery at University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria so that measures can be put in place to minimize this effect and thereby increase cataract surgery uptake in the centre. Results: Three hundred and eighty-eight cataract patients participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 66.6±11.2years with a range of 40 to 90 years. More than half (66.2%) of the study participants had systemic co- morbidities. Poorly controlled systemic hypertension is the most common cause of systemic co-morbidities that constitute significant barrier to uptake of cataract surgery. Conclusion: There is a need for good and close collaboration between the physicians and the ophthalmologists so as to make management of cataract patients with systemic co-morbidities easier and more efficient at the Eye Outreach Clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan.