Prevalence of ocular manifestations and related morbidity in severely malnourished children in a tertiary eye care center

Abstract

Background: Ocular involvement is relatively common in malnourished children, and the consequences of malnutrition on the eye are frequently more severe during the formative years of life. This is a significant cause of avoidable blindness that has to be addressed with affordable methods. This study aims to determine the nature, extent, and seriousness of ocular manifestations in malnourished children and to evaluate the current prevalence given improving nutritional parameters through increased public awareness, education, and knowledge of vaccination and nutrition. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in the department of ophthalmology of a tertiary eye care center for 1 year. Eye camps were held close by in urban shantytowns. We considered 518 kids between the ages of 6 months and 5 years who lived in those slums. The patient was subjected to a general, systemic, and ocular examination, including a vision and fundus examination. Results: A total of 100 children aged 6 months and 5 years (60 months) who were severely critically malnourished were enrolled and given an eye examination. In this study, 72% of very acutely malnourished children had ocular involvement. Conjunctival pallor was the most general observation in the anterior segment in 179 of the eyes (71.5% of the eyes). Retinal hemorrhage was the most pervasive posterior segment findings in 19 eyes (36.8%). Conclusion: This study is aimed to determine how frequently ocular symptoms occurred in malnourished children who visited tertiary eye care facilities. A vital target population that requires comprehensive screening to avoid vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and detect eye problems early is preschoolers. Every child should also receive an immunization and vitamin A prophylaxis. Low socioeconomic position, illiterate parents, and inadequate sanitation were determined to be the key risk factors for VAD.