Awareness of Low Vision Aids Among Patients with Irreversible Visual Impairment in Bauchi State

Low vision aids offer substantial functional benefits for individuals with irreversible visual impairment, yet awareness and utilisation remain consistently low in Nigerian settings. This study assesses the level of awareness and attitudes toward low vision aids among patients with irreversible visual impairment attending Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design will be employed. All eligible patients with best-corrected visual acuity below 6 over 18 in the better eye due to irreversible conditions attending the eye clinic over a three-month period will be recruited consecutively. A structured questionnaire will assess prior knowledge of low vision aids, types known, previous use, perceived cost, and willingness to use aids if made available. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests will be applied. Studies from northern Nigeria document near-universal unawareness of low vision rehabilitation services and assistive devices among visually impaired patients even in tertiary hospital settings. This is compounded by the absence of dedicated low vision clinics in most North East hospitals. This study generates Bauchi-specific data to advocate for the establishment of a low vision rehabilitation unit at ATBUTH and to guide training of ophthalmic personnel in low vision assessment and device fitting. Community-based sensitisation targeting persons with low vision and their caregivers will also be recommended. Improving awareness of low vision aids is a prerequisite for the functional rehabilitation of Nigeria's growing population of irreversibly visually impaired persons. Keywords: low vision aids, visual rehabilitation, awareness, Bauchi State, irreversible impairment