Ocular morbidity at a small eye unit in Jimma town, south western Ethiopia: a three year analysis.

A total of 10,299 new cases of eye diseases were seen in the past three years at Jimma Eye Unit. Conjunctivitis, trachoma, cataract, and refractive errors, were the leading causes of ocular morbidity accounting for 35.5%, 16.8%, 10.6% and 9.7% of the cases respectively. 28.3% of the trachoma cases had trichiasis and/or entropion. Increased activity in primary eye care in general and, provision of entropion surgery, availability of low-cost eye glasses and the expansion and improvement of the eye unit are recommended to effect a better ophthalmic service in the region.