Pattern of ocular diseases in Ulziit soum, Arkhangai province, Mongolia / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

ABSTRACT

Background@#The lower socioeconomic status and long distance to eye care facility of the rural dwellers in many communities in developing countries accounts for the increase in the number of preventable and avoidable causes of blindness. It is widely believed that the best option to reduce blindness and visual impairment in these communities is to bring eye care services to their doorsteps in the form of outreach programs. @*Aims@#To assess the pattern of eye diseases presenting at a free eye outreach in a rural community of Mongolia.@*Methods@#A retrospective, descriptive study was carried out on the findings of 2-day outreach programs at Medical Center of Ulziit village, Arkhangai province of Mongolia. Patient history including sociodemographic data and comprehensive eye examination were done in the study group.@*Results@#The most common ocular disorder in the study group was external eye diseases including conjunctivitis. There were more females seen at the free eye outreach clinic and majority of participants were 45-59 years old. @*Conclusion@#In sparsely densely countries like Mongolia, outreach screening programs for ocular morbidity is crucial to decrease low vision and blindness.