ABSTRACT
Introduction: Presbyopia, a physiological insufficiency ofaccommodation, impairs the ability to perform near task.Considered as a disease of the forties, it reduces functionalefficiency of the individual as well as the society since itaffects the majority of working population. This study was aneffort to evaluate the risk factors that can lead to its earlieronset. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequencyof risk factors associated with premature presbyopia in ahospital-based study in Sundergarh district, Odisha.Material and Methods: It was a hospital-based study carriedout at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Rourkela fromOctober 2016 to October 2018. Patients aged 30 years or morewho presented with difficulties in near work were includedin the study. Premature presbyopic was defined as presbyopicperson aged less than 40 years. Premature presbyopics werefurther subjected to a questionnaire and detailed examinationafter taking informed consent.Results: The mean age of presentation in prematurepresbyopics was 36.2 years and the average correction requiredwas 1.22 D. Among the total number of persons presentingwith presbyopia about one-eighth (12.03%) presented before40 years. Female sex, occupation requiring near work,exposure to sunlight for longer duration and hypermetropiawere most common risk factors over all. Among malessmoking, alcohol, exposure to higher temperature (factoryworkers) were significant risk factors. Multiparity, anemia andpremature menopause presented as important risk factors infemales. Smart phone usage was found to be an important riskfactor in urban population.Conclusion: Early presentation of presbyopia reducesthe functional efficiency of the individual. Evaluation ofrisk factors will help to determine the population at risk ofpremature presbyopia and their prompt management can bedone with near correction.