An epidemiological study of ocular trauma in rural community in Myanmar

ABSTRACT

The epidemiological study of ocular trauma in rural setting of Chauk, Meiktila and Bago area was carried out by the ophthalmologists and a team of TC & PBL named as "Model Village eye Health survey". the prevalence was 248 cases (1.57 case per 1000). The rate of 0.5 case per 1000 in under 14 years increased to 2.4 per 1000 in 45 to 59 age group. The older age groups were exposed to trauma almost 5 times more than the younger group. The prevalence of ocular trauma was about the same in both sexes 1.8 and 1.4 per 1000 in male and female respetively. 213 persons (85.9 per cent) sustained the injuries in agricultural environment and only 35 (14.2 per cent) were injured by other sources. The number of blunt injury was 93 (37.5 per cent) and injuries by agricultural equipments contributed to 87 cases (35.1 per cent). It was followed by 57 foreign body cases (23 per cent) and others about 4.4 per cent. Cornea was the commonest anatomical site sustaining 64 per cent of injury followed by 12.4 per cent in conjunctiva, 10.8 per cent in the eye ball and 2.8 per cent in the lens. this study illuminates the fact that the strategies to prevent blindness through ocular trauma are to render extensive eye health education down to the communities at the village level and to recruit, train and equip primary eye care workers aat least one for each village to deliver primary eye care services and referral throughout the country.