A Cross-Sectional Study of Ocular Morbidity Pattern in the People Above the Age of 18 years Residing in Cheluvanatti Village, Belgaum District

Abstract

Background and Introduction ABSTRACT Human beings have been bestowed with several gifts by nature, the best among them is vision. The objectives of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of various ocular problems in the rural people above the age of 18 years, to know the ocular morbidities in various age groups above 18 years and to assess association between any major ocular morbidity and risk factors like alcohol, smoking etc. Methodology The present study was a one year community based cross-sectional study conducted on 872 individuals above the age of 18 years who were permanent residents of Cheluvanatti village, Handiganur Primary Health Centre, Belgaum between the period from January 2009 to December 2009. All the individuals above the age of 18 years and who were permanent residents of village were included in the study. Snellen’s Charts were used to test visual acuity. Other ocular morbidities were diagnosed by clinical examination with naked eye examination and pen torch. Results In the present study majority were male participants ( 51.26% ) in the age group of 18 to 30 years ( 38.42% ) and had completed their high school education ( 33.49% ) . Nearly 12.30% of males were smokers and 14.10% were alcoholics. Overall ocular morbidity among study participants was 13.87%. Prevalence of various ocular morbidities among the study participants were, refractive errors III ( 6.42% ) , cataract ( 4.01% ) , blindness ( 2.98% ) , glaucoma ( 0.57% ) , stye ( 0.46% ) , pterygium ( 0.34% ) , corneal ulcer ( 0.34% ) , diabetic retinopathy ( 0.23% ) and hypertensive retinopathy ( 0.11% ) . Conclusion In most of the patients ocular morbidities were either preventable or treatable. Blindness was significantly associated with increasing age, low educational status and associated medical conditions like diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Cataract was significantly associated with increasing age, low educational status, smoking and associated medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Refractive errors were significantly associated with increasing age, low educational status, smoking and alcohol consumption.