A E Omoti1. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, P. M. B. 1111, Benin City.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the complications of traditional couching in a local population. METHOD: New patients who had undergone couching and presented to the consultant outpatient clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and D.D.S. Eye clinic in Benin-city between April 2002 and March 2003 were interviewed and examined by the author to identify the complications. RESULTS: Eighteen eyes of 14 patients who had undergone couching were seen in Benin-city over a 1 year period. The cost of couching was similar to modern cataract surgery. Ten patients (71.42%) were initially satisfied but later became unsatisfied because of the complications and 2 (14.29%) were unsatisfied with the procedure. The main reasons for opting for couching were ignorance and fear of surgery. The main complications were secondary glaucoma (61.54%), hyphaema (15.38%) and optic atrophy (15.38%). Visual acuity of no light perception was seen in 33.33 % of eyes mainly from secondary glaucoma but 50% of eyes had corrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better. CONCLUSION: In view of the above complications, traditional couching should not be encouraged.
AIM: To evaluate the complications of traditional couching in a local population. METHOD: New patients who had undergone couching and presented to the consultant outpatient clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and D.D.S. Eye clinic in Benin-city between April 2002 and March 2003 were interviewed and examined by the author to identify the complications. RESULTS: Eighteen eyes of 14 patients who had undergone couching were seen in Benin-city over a 1 year period. The cost of couching was similar to modern cataract surgery. Ten patients (71.42%) were initially satisfied but later became unsatisfied because of the complications and 2 (14.29%) were unsatisfied with the procedure. The main reasons for opting for couching were ignorance and fear of surgery. The main complications were secondary glaucoma (61.54%), hyphaema (15.38%) and optic atrophy (15.38%). Visual acuity of no light perception was seen in 33.33 % of eyes mainly from secondary glaucoma but 50% of eyes had corrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better. CONCLUSION: In view of the above complications, traditional couching should not be encouraged.