KNOWLEDGE OF GLAUCOMA BLINDNESS AMONG STUDENTS OF AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY, EDO, STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Aim: This study assessed knowledge of glaucoma blindness, knowledge of risk factors and practice of 
preventive measures of glaucoma among undergraduate students of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, 
Edo state, Nigeria.
Methodology: This descriptive study was carried out amongst 221 respondents, selected using 
multistage sampling technique. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection. 
Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21.0 software for descriptive statistics. The Chi square test 
was used to test for association, the level of significance was set as p < 0.05.
Results: Out of 221 respondents, only 13% had good knowledge of glaucoma while 87% had poor 
knowledge. Only 6% had good knowledge of risk factors of glaucoma and 94% had poor knowledge, 
while 39% of respondents had good practice of preventive measures of glaucoma blindness and 61% 
had poor practice of preventive measures of glaucoma. There was a statistical significance between 
knowledge of glaucoma and the level of study in the nursing department (p<0.001). 
Conclusion: Knowledge of glaucoma blindness was low among the respondents. The findings of this 
study stress the need for effective information and education about glaucoma.