Volume : V, Issue : VIII, August - 2016

Survey of low vision and blindness in eye centre in Jammu and Kashmir

Dr V K Baranwal, Dr K Shyamsunder

Abstract :

 A retrospective survey of 4, 122 consecutive patient records of eye department was performed in an eye centre of a government hospital in Jammu and Kashmir providing free care . Data collected included age, gender, visual acuity after completion of treatment and diagnosis. 62.8% of the patients were male. After completion of treatment, 10.8% had low vision (best corrected visual acuity <6/18 to 3/60 in the better eye) and 2.6% were blind (best correct visual acuity <3/60 in the better eye). Most cases of low vision were found in the 50 to 70 year age group (42.8%). The most common visual acuity range after treatment amongst patients with vision loss was <6/18 to 6/60 (71%). The 5 main causes of low vision after treatment were glaucoma (16.0%), diabetic retinopathy (14.9%), and retinitis pigmentosa (12.3%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (10.2%) and Corneal opacity (10.2%). The 5 main causes of blindness were phthisis bulbi (47%), glaucoma (29.4%), optic atrophy (11.8%), uveitis (5.9%) & aphakic bullous keratopathy (5.9%). It is suggested that patients with low vision at the conclusion of treatment be referred to a visual rehabilitation centre. Referral should be made in cases with a best–corrected visual acuity <6/18 to 3/60 or with visual field loss to within 10° of fixation. Patients aged less than 50 years of age are expected to achieve maximal rehabilitation success. Motivation and vocational requirements should be assessed in older or more complex cases before referral. The data of this study shows that about 10% of patients seen at an eye hospital in India could benefit from low vision rehabilitation.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Dr V K Baranwal, Dr K Shyamsunder Survey of low vision and blindness in eye centre in Jammu and Kashmir International Journal of Scientific Research,Volume : 5 | Issue : 8 |August 2016


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