RESUMO
Background: Corneal ulcer is one of the important ophthalmic conditions causing significant morbidity especially in the developing countries. This study was carried out to evaluate the common etiological agents, predisposing factors, age, gender and occupational distribution and to study the clinical features and management of all corneal ulcers.Methods: A total of 50 cases of corneal ulcers who attended the Ophthalmology outpatient department (OPD) of Assam medical college and hospital, Assam, India, over a 6 months period were included in the study. A detailed history was taken and examination done as per the proforma. Microscopy and culture were performed on all corneal specimens obtained.Results: Corneal ulcers were common in 3rd to 5th decades of life with Male to Female ratio of 1.3:1. Majority of patients were farmers or hired agricultural workers. Ocular trauma was the major predisposing factor in majority of cases (32%). Out of 50 cases, 31 (62%) were culture positive. 19 were bacterial isolates and 12 were fungal isolates. All patients were treated according to standard treatment protocol and majority (95.5%) patients responded well to treatment.Conclusions: This study has revealed that suppurative corneal ulcers are caused by both bacterial and fungal agents with bacterial preponderance in this geographical area. Early and accurate diagnosis and intensive treatment is the need of hour for saving the eye and preventing the catastrophe of lifelong blindness.
RESUMO
Background: The aim of the study was to determine the various types of congenital or acquired disorders causing permanent disability and their association with age, sex and visual acuity in patients attending disability clinic of department of ophthalmology, Jorhat medical college and hospital, Assam, from January 2018 to December 2018.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study. 200 patients were enrolled in the duration of January 2018 to December 2018 and were analyzed for anomalies, etiology, sex and age at presentation.Results: Out of 200 cases analysed, 116 males and 84 females (Male: Female = 1.38:1) observed. The most common age group at presentation was 11-20 years (28.5%). 23% of cases were congenital. The most frequent ocular anomaly noted was microphthalmos (19%) followed by uveal coloboma (15%) and phthisis bulbi (14%).Conclusions: In a developing country like India, a large proportion of the childhood and adult blindness is avoidable. Action is needed to prevent blindness from vitamin A deficiency, measles, external ocular infections and chemical injuries. Specialist paediatric and optical services are required to manage cataract and glaucoma. Further work is indicated to elucidate the causes of anophthalmos, microphthalmos and coloboma. It would be useful to document the changing patterns in the causes of ocular disability to allow early action against emerging avoidable causes.