Reasons Patients Seek Ophthalmic Medical Certificates/ Reports at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka, Nigeria

Background: Medical certificates or medical reports are often requested by patients for varying reasons which include permission to absent from work, school or certain duties or as evidence of ill health or ocular injury.

Aim: To explore the reasons patients seek medical certificate/medical report at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria.

Methods: This is a retrospective hospital based study conducted at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Awka. The case files of new patients seen at the Eye Unit of the hospital from January 2016 to December 2021were examined. Those who requested for medical certificates/reports were identified and relevant information were extracted for the study. The results were analyzed and presented with frequency tables.

Results: Out of the 4407 new patients seen, 290(6.6%) requested ophthalmic medical certificate. Among the 290 patients, 170 (58.6%) were males while 120 (41.4%) were females, with male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The age range was 9 years to 75 years, while the mean age was 35.9years. Obtaining tinted vehicle wind shield permit 49 (16.9%) was the most common reason for seeking ophthalmic medical certificate followed by voluntary retirement. Civil servants 75 (25.2%) constituted the most common group, followed by students/pupils 57(26.2%). Among those that applied, 214 (73.8%) were granted while 76 (26.2%) were not granted. Ninety seven (33.4%) cases had ocular morbidities of which assault cases 19(19.6%) were responsible for most of the ocular morbidities. Refractive error was the commonest diagnosis and some people had more than one diagnosis. Most patients 221 (96.2%) had presenting visual acuity of 6/6 – 6/18. Four patients had presenting visual acuity of <3/60 in both eyes.

Conclusion: Ophthalmic medical certificates/reports are requested for many reasons by patients. While some reasons are genuine, others are not. It behooves the certifier to obtain proper information about the patient. The certificate/report should be accurate, not misleading and devoid of sentiments.