International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research Vol.3; Issue: 4; Oct.-Dec. 2018 Website: www.ijshr.com Original Research Article ISSN: 2455-7587 International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research (www.ijshr.com) 123 Vol.3; Issue: 4; October-December 2018 A Study on the Evaluation of Cataract Blindness in the Commercial City of Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria Bilesanmi A. O. Department of General Studies, Petroleum Training Institute, Effurum-Delta State, Nigeria ABSTRACT This study evaluates the trend of cataract blindness in Onitsha, of Anambra State. The study employed secondary source of data collection which was obtained from the eye records department of General Hospital Onitsha. The statistical tools used includes the time series analysis, Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin (KPSS) test, Mean absolute percentage error, mean absolute deviation, mean square deviation and paired sample test. The findings of the study revealed that the distribution of reported cases of cataract showed a steeply increasing trend of cases of cataract in Onitsha, Anambra State. It was found that the quadratic model provides the best trend model for estimating total number of cataract cases in Onitsha, Anambra State. It was found that the series of number of reported cataract cases is stationary over time. Hence, was used to make future forecast of the series. The two years forecast of reported cases of cataract in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State revealed an increasing trend. Also, it was found that there exist positive linear association between male and female reported cases of cataract. Further findings showed that there are more female reported cases of cataract than male in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State. Keywords: Blindness, Forecast, Health, Patients, Surgery, Trend 1.0 INTRODUCTION Cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural clear lens. Most cataracts appear with advancing age. The exact cause of cataract is unclear, but it may be the result of a lifetime of exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight, or may be related to other lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, diet and alcohol consumption. Cataract can also occur at any age as a result of other causes such as eye injury (traumatic), or occur as a result of eye surgery for other problems. Exposure to toxic substances or radiation, or as a result of other diseases such as diabetes. Congenital cataracts may even be present at birth due to genetic defects or developmental problems. The Cataract is a multi-factorial disease associated with age, sex, genetic predisposition, smoking, diabetes mellitus, drug intake and environmental exposure or Ultraviolet radiation. It is a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide (Abraham et al. 2006). Despite the fact that 90% of cataracts in the world are reported in developing countries, it's social, physical and economic impact is still substantial in the developed world (Abraham, et al. 2006). It was found from existing records from General Hospital Onitsha, Anambra State that cataract poses as the major cause of blindness in Anambra State. Also, most reported cases have both eyes affected by cataract. Cataract has become a hypothetical statement associated with aging, implicated in the common usage of terms such as age related or senile cataract. Cataract as one of the visual disability affects or alters an individual’s activities of daily living and remains the leading cause of visual impairment all over the world. Authors argue that cataract stand as a major cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide, especially countries such as India, China and sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, making it a significant public health problem. Surgery remains the only method of treatment of cataract. However, this surgery