Demographic Profile of Patients with Corneal Blindness at Tertiary Health Care Centre
Vishal Wagh
*
Department of Ophthalmology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, India.
Pravin Tidake
Department of Ophthalmology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: To study the etiopathogenesis, age, gender distribution and visual impairment due to corneal blindness in a tertiary health care centre. In addition, to create awareness for eye donation among the population.
Methods: The study was a cross sectional study conducted at a university hospital. Patients who arrived at the outpatient department while the study was ongoing had their demographic profiles recorded. Corneal blindness was defined by presenting a VA 3/60 by corneal disease in the affected eye. The experts made the diagnosis. 56 patients of both gender and age were included in study.
Results: The prevalence of corneal blindness was found to more in men than women were and is more in patients with age >50 and < 10 years. The prevalence is more in rural population than urban among which farmer are most involved
Conclusion: To decrease the burden of the corneal blindness patient in developing countries like India, there is need of educating the population about preventive measures and development and modernisation of ophthalmic centres.
Keywords: Infectious keratitis, corneal blindness, trachoma