European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A CLINICAL STUDY OF VARIOUS OPHTHALMIC DISEASES IN CHILDREN ATTENDING OPD OF GOVERNMENT GENERAL HOSPITAL, KAKINADA, ANDHRA PRADESH

*Dr. Shyam Savith Varanasi and Dr. Bharat Kumar Jain

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Vision disorders in children are different from adults, because of children’s inability to express and due to the risk of developing amblyopia. Therefore, children must be treated as early as possible, with treatment modalities such as optical, orthoptic, medical and surgical measures. India alone is accounting for more than 200,000 of blind children, which is 5 times that of developed nations. Present study aims to determine the pattern of ocular morbidity in children attending out-patient department of ophthalmology of government general hospital, Kakinada, from December 2016 to June 2018. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional observational study of 391 children between 0-14 years age. Patients were examined by optometrists, senior residents and Assistant professors at various levels, using equipment for testing visual acuity, refraction, slit lamp examination, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, squint examination. Seeking consent and cooperation from parent/ guardian were mandatory. Results: Out of 391 patients, most common morbidity detected was refractive error 157(40.15%), followed by infections of eye and adnexa 85(21.70%), allergic conjunctivitis 56(14.32%), ocular trauma 36(9.20%), congenital eye diseases 25(6.39%). Other less common causes detected were bitot's spots, chalazion, corneal opacities, episcleritis, oculomotor nerve palsy, optic nerve glioma, papilloedema, trichiasis. These affected 32(8.18%) children. Conclusions: Refractive errors were the most common morbidity detected in the present study. Most morbidities detected were either treatable or preventable. Regular conduction of school eye health programs, health education activities on ocular hygiene practices are essential for early detection and treatment of refractive errors, ocular infections and other morbidities.

Keywords: Ocular morbidity, refractive errors, Amblyopia.