Evaluation of Self-Medication Practices in the Treatment of Eye Diseases in the Ophthalmology Department of Niamey National Hospital in Niger

Introduction: The objective of this study was to assess the practice of self-medication for ocular conditions at the Ophthalmology Department of the National Hospital of Niamey. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted over a six-month period. The variables analyzed included age, sex, occupation, educational level, presenting symptoms, diagnosed ocular conditions, types of products used, factors motivating self-medication, and patients’ level of knowledge about the products used. Results: The hospital prevalence of self-medication was 24.65%. The mean age of patients was 33.8 ± 22.27 years. Female patients were slightly predominant (male-to-female ratio = 0.97). The main reasons for consultation were ocular pain (46.48%), redness (43.66%), and visual loss (39.44%). The leading reason for self-medication was economic constraints (26.71%). In 52.11% of cases, self-medication was initiated by the patients themselves. Products used were pharmacological in 74.65% of cases and traditional in 25.35%. Eye drops were the most common pharmaceutical form (83.02%), primarily antibiotic-based (49.06%), and most often obtained from pharmacies (43.66%). Among traditional treatments, herbal remedies were the most frequently used (72.22%). 60.56% of patients reported having no knowledge of the nature of the product used. Conclusion: Self-medication is common among ophthalmology patients in our setting, primarily driven by economic factors. Public awareness and stricter regulation of ocular drug dispensing are essential to minimize the associated risks.