**1. Introduction**

The eye, a functionally and structurally complex organ, experiences a variety of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections [1]. Bacterial infections are the major contributors of ocular infections worldwide. Infection can be mono or poly-microbial and is associated with many factors including contact lenses, trauma, surgery, age, dry eye state, chronic nasolacrimal duct obstruction and previous ocular infections [2].

Staphylococci are the leading ocular isolates worldwide among the Gram-positive bacteria [3]. Whereas *Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae* and *Escherichia coli* are the major Gram-negative bacteria isolated from ocular Infections [4]. The eye may be infected from external sources or through intraocular invasion of microorganisms that are carried out by blood stream [5]. External bacterial infections of the eye are usually localized but may frequently spread to other tissues.

Infection of the eye leads to conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, dacryocystitis, endophthalmitis and other infections which are responsible for increased incidence of morbidity and blindness worldwide [6].

Ocular infections, if left untreated, can damage the structure of the eye leading to visual impairment and blindness. Even though the eye is rigid and protected by continuous flow of tear which contains antibacterial substances, inflammation and scarring once occurred may not be easily resolved and required immediate management [7].

Ocular infection is a life-threatening condition which needs early diagnosis and treatment to save the patients' eye. In Africa alone, between 1000 and 4000 children are blinded annually by conjunctivitis [8]. Ocular infections are the second most common cause for blindness in developing countries [9].

Ocular infections are common in north-western states in Nigeria. In view of the changing etiological agents documented in other parts of the world and evolving resistance of infective agents to therapeutic agents, which may increase the risk of treatment failure with potentially serious consequences [10]. Therefore, up-to-date information is essential for appropriate antimicrobial therapy and management of ocular infections [11].

The objective of the study to determine the prevalence of bacterial ocular infections, the bacterial etiologic agents associated with ocular infections, the bacterial isolates in patients according to age, sex and other demographic factors and to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of incriminated isolates among patients attending eye clinic of Aminu Kano teaching hospital and Murtala Muhammad specialist hospital.
