Dr. Prashant Bhaskarrao Thorat

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.47191/ijahm/v12i6.03

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Abstract:

Purpose: This study investigates distribution pattern & prevalence of corneal opacity in daily wages workers in Navi Mumbai. As the daily wages workers are majorly illiterate & to meet with their daily necessity of human beings they have to work daily on the day wages without any skill & safety equipment or measurements. So they are very prone for frequent ocular injuries.  

We aim to report the prevalence of traumatic corneal opacity among the daily wage workers of Navi Mumbai.

Methods:  A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1500 daily wage workers with the mobile eye clinic under the Eye screening program of Prabhat Trust. Demographic data were entered by the respected worker with valid government id proof & Screening included {torch light examination,Vision taking, Refraction, Examination of Squint by cover & uncover test} by trained optometrist. The screening was conducted in various centres (Naka) of daily wage workers in 12 sub-division of Navi Mumbai.  

Results: The prevalence of corneal opacity was 118 (7.4%) 

 Among which macular opacity was the most common type present in 48 (40.7%), followed by nebular opacity in 39 (33.1%) and the remaining 31 (26.3%) with leucomatous opacity

Males had slightly higher corneal opacity  62 (6.93%) than females 56 (5.9 %). 

Conclusion: The study provides useful and baseline data about the corneal injuries & prevalence of opacity amongst the daily wages workers of Navi Mumbai. A larger study needs to be conducted in all the subdivisions of the state to get a clearer picture of corneal opacity and other eye related diseases to detect vision problems as early as possible to provide the needful assessment to the labourers.

Timely intervention for eye examination plays an important role to protect these workers from becoming blind because once there is an injury it needs treatment as soon as possible. If not then the condition can get worse & it might slowly-slowly hamper vision. Active screening and timely intervention will not only help in vision restoration but will also influence the awareness of health & continuous wages work to earn for livelihood.

Keywords: Macular; Nebular; Prevalence; Leucomatous; Refractive error; Opacification.

References:

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