To Study the Morbidity Pattern of Patients Attending the Ophthalmology OPD of Tertiary Eye Care Centre with Reference to Age

Abstract

Background: Vision is the most important special sense in human being. Normal vision is essential for normal physical, mental, psychological development and education. In developing countries like India lower socioeconomic status and lack of proper eye care are responsible for increase in the number of preventable and avoidable causes of blindness as compared to developed countries of the world therefore early detection and treatment of ocular morbidity is important. Aim: To assess the morbidity pattern of ocular disease with respect to age, this will show the trend of ocular morbidities in different age groups. Material and Method: The entire patient in ophthalmology OPD of tertiary eye care center in the past 1 year, were enlisted in this study with their consent. The patients were seen in ophthalmic OPD by ophthalmologist, proper anterior and posterior segment evaluation was done. Patients were divided into different groups according to the age and diagnosis of the disease. Result: Majority of the patients 16441 (46.05%) were found to be in the age group of 31-60 years which shows that common eye diseases are usually linked with age. There was a high prevalence of refractive errors 12098 (33.89%)in the age group till 60 years and cataract 5206 (14.58%) in age group of more than 60 years. Conclusion: It has been observed that majority of patients attending the ophthalmology OPD were between the age group of 31-60 years and beyond and majority were suffering from refractive errors and cataract. Thus this study gives the picture of morbidity pattern of ocular disease in the tertiary health care centre, which is helpful in planning and management of the diseases and denotes that creating awareness among the population is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases