Dr. Prashant Bhaskarrao Thorat

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.47191/ijahm/v12i6.04

Download Pdf

Abstract:

Purpose: This study investigates distribution pattern & prevalence of traumatic cataract 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 cataract among the daily wage workers of Navi Mumbai.

Methods:  A cross-sectional study was carried out among 600 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, the worker (patient) who had lens opacification was later transferred for detailed examination with blood sugar level, blood pressure and a detailed history of the patient.

Results: The prevalence of cataract  was 150 (25%) Among which corneal opacity was present in 48 (8%), followed by refractive error in 300(50%) and the remaining 102(17%) with other eye complications such as allergic conjunctivitis, style, chalazion, squint.

Prevalence of cataract among 150 patient (60%) 90 patient were of  traumatic cataract this was diagnosed after a detailed eye examination and a history of the patient 

Males had slightly higher traumatic cataract  62 (70%) than females 30(27 %). 

Conclusion: The study provides useful and baseline data about the prevalence of traumatic cataract amongst the daily wage workers  of Navi Mumbai. A larger study needs to be conducted in all the subdivisions of the state to get a clearer picture of traumatic cataract 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. once cataract formed there is no medication nor any glasses that can improve their vision for a long time. 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: : Traumatic; Cataract; zonule; lens; squint; Prevalence; conjunctivitis; Refractive error; Opacification.

References:

1. Asbell P.A., Dualan I., Mindel J., Brocks D., Ahmad M., Epstein S. Age-related cataract. 2005;365:599–609. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
2. Mehul AS, Shreya MS, Shashank BS, Patel UA. Effect of interval between time of injury and timing of intervention on final visual outcome in cases of traumatic cataract. Eur J Ophthalmol 2011; 21:760-5
3. Sushruta Samhita