ABSTRACT
Objective: To study ocular surface abnormalities in patients with pterygium, conjunctival impression cytology was explored as a tool for the assessment of the cytological changes. Materials and Methods: A comparative case control study was undertaken to evaluate the ocular surface disorders in pterygium. Fifty cases of pterygium and 50 age and sex-matched controls were analyzed for the presence of local tear film abnormalities as assessed by the tear film break up time and Schirmer test. The spectrum of changes in cytomorphology was studied in detail using conjunctival imprint cytology. Results: Tear film break-up time and Schirmer's strip wetting were found to be significantly different in study and control groups. Studying the cytomorphology of the conjunctival imprint smears, reduced cellularity and squamous metaplasia of different grades was observed more frequently in patients compared to controls. On overall grading of cytological changes, statistically significant difference was noted between the study and control groups (P value 0.00172). Conclusion: From the present study we can suggest that aqueous tear film deficiency leading to ocular surface disorder brings about a change at the cytological level, and ocular surface disorders found in pterygium can be interpreted by conjunctival impression cytology.
ABSTRACT
To determine the profile of the visual acuity status, refractive error and other ocular morbidities and to asses the performance at different stages following a vision screening programme in school a retrospective analysis of the data obtained from the programme register for school vision screening programme conducted from April 2003 to March 2006 was done. The data was plotted age and genderwise. Statistical analysis was done to find out disease prevalence with 95% confidence Interval and Z-test was applied for comparison. There were 45,087 students for 239 primary and secondary schools who were examined; 1856 students (4.11%) found having visual acuity .5 or less in either or both eyes. Refractive error was evident in 4.03% students and was the aetiology of compromised vision in 98%. Myopia topped the list with the prevalence of 2.85%; 1733 students (3.84%) were provided with spectacles. Correction of refractive error improved the visual disability in 3.93% of students while amblyopia was found in 0.10%. Average student load per teacher for initial screening was 229. The vision screening programme in school helps to detect refractive error and other causes of compromised vision among large section of children between 5 and 15 years age group. Use of correct spectacles prevents amblyopia considerably. Constraints arising in the programme can be removed by proper planning.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Mass Screening , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , School Health Services , Students , Treatment Outcome , Urban Population , Vision Disorders/diagnosis , Vision Tests , Vision, Ocular , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
A retrospective study of 8772 children's records at the department of ophthalmology, North Bengal Medical College, Sushrutanagar, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India was conducted to collect the data on visual loss relating age, gender, degree and aetiology with an object of delineation of the profile of visual loss in children of particular area encircling that referral centre. Out of 8772 children, 126 children were detected to be suffering from visual loss. Of these 126 children, 88(69.84%) were males, 38(30.16%) were females, 75 children (59.52%) had low vision, 51(40.48%) had blindness. The causes of visual loss were cataract in 42 cases (33.33%), corneal pathology in 30(23.80%), high refractive error in 15(11.90%), glaucoma in 14(11.11%), retinal disease in 12(9.52%), global anomalies in 10 (7.94%) and lesion in the higher visual pathway in 3 cases (2.38%). Information obtained from the study possesses a definite role in understanding the background of visual loss in children of a particular area and planning the strategy to control childhood blindness by identification of preventable and treatable causes of blindness.