POSTERIOR SEGMENT FINDINGS IN PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Aim: To determine the posterior segment findings of chronic kidney disease in adult patients 
receiving hemodialysis at a tertiary hospital.
Methods: This is a hospital based descriptive, cross-sectional study the posterior segment 
findings of chronic kidney disease in adult patients on dialysis in the University of Benin 
Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
Results: A total of 96 patients who had hemodialysis at the centre were studied. Their age 
range was between 19 and 75 with a mean of 44.2+13.6 years. Males were about 2/3rd of (65%) 
of the study population and females just over a third (34.4%), giving a male to female ratio of 
1.9:1. 10.4% had normal posterior segment findings. The common posterior segment findings 
were hypertensive retinopathy 33.3%, macular oedema 20.8% and diabetic retinopathy 11.5%.
Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment among patients receiving hemodialysis in the 
University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Nigeria, was 28.1%, while blindness was 5.2%. The 
main causes of visual impairment were diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy and 
macular oedema.