Pattern of Eye Disorders Among Patients at a Mission Eye Hospital in Markurdi, Benue State

Mission hospitals play a critical role in providing eye care to underserved populations in Nigeria, particularly in states with insufficient public sector eye care infrastructure. This study documents the pattern of eye disorders among patients attending a mission eye hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, North Central Nigeria. A retrospective cross-sectional study will be conducted by reviewing clinical records of all patients who attended the hospital's eye clinic over a three-year period. Data extracted will include age, sex, presenting complaints, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes. Diagnoses will be grouped into categories including refractive errors, anterior segment disorders, posterior segment conditions, glaucoma, and trauma-related injuries. Descriptive statistics will summarize the data, and chi-square tests will assess gender and age group differences. The study expects to find refractive errors, cataracts, and conjunctivitis as the most common conditions, with a notable burden of glaucoma among adults above 40 years. Findings will be presented to the hospital's management and the Benue State Ministry of Health to guide resource allocation and service expansion. This research provides evidence on the role of mission health institutions in addressing the eye care burden in Nigeria's North Central zone and contributes to the epidemiological literature on ocular disorders in a mission hospital setting. Keywords: eye disorders, mission hospital, Makurdi, Benue State, epidemiology