Prevalence and Causes of Blindness Among Elderly Residents of Selected Nursing Homes in Lagos State

Blindness among elderly persons significantly increases dependence, reduces quality of life, and imposes substantial social and economic costs on families and the healthcare system. This study determines the prevalence and leading causes of blindness among elderly residents in selected nursing homes in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study design will be employed. All residents aged 60 years and above across five registered nursing homes in Lagos Island and Ikeja will be eligible. Comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation including visual acuity testing, slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, and intraocular pressure measurement will be conducted by a visiting ophthalmologist. Blindness will be defined according to the WHO criteria of visual acuity less than 3 over 60 in the better eye with best correction. Data will be analysed using SPSS, with frequency tables and chi-square tests applied to identify associations between blindness aetiology and demographic variables. Globally, cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration are the predominant causes of blindness in older populations. However, the specific burden in Nigerian care home settings remains poorly documented. This study provides an initial situational assessment for Lagos State and highlights systemic gaps in geriatric eye care. Recommendations will address routine ophthalmic screening for the elderly within care facilities and the scaling up of outreach cataract surgical camps as a practical, affordable response to avoidable elderly blindness. Keywords: blindness, elderly, nursing homes, Lagos State, cataract