Evaluation of Ophthalmology Inpatients Consultation in a Nigerian Tertiary Eye Care Centre.

Background: Ophthalmology consultations are more thorough on outpatient basis, but inpatient evaluation cannot be over looked especially in terms of care of patients admitted in other specialties.

Objective: This is to assess the profile of inpatient consultation and eye problems evaluated and managed by the ophthalmology department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods: All consecutive inpatients who had ophthalmic consultations requested for by various departments in the hospital between July 2018 and June 2019.

Results: A total of 227 inpatient consultations with 217 diagnoses were seen. Most of the patients were between the ages of 20-39 years. The highest number of consults (50.7%) were received from the medical wards. The most common reasons for ophthalmic inpatient consultations were reduction in vision (26.7%), eye pain (19.9%) and ocular screening which was ocular examination for patients with raised intracranial pressure, hypertension, diabetes and glaucoma (15.4%). Based on subspecialties, anterior segment and cornea unit received the highest number of consults (41.9%) while retina/ uveitis received the highest (58.7%) number of screening consultation.

Conclusions: Inpatient consultations is very useful to the patient and managing physician. Although a better knowledge in the identification of common ophthalmic conditions can help to reduce the number of inpatient consults from other medical specialties.