CAUSES OF LOW VISION AND ANALYSIS OF ACCEPTANCE OF LOW VISION AIDS IN STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SCHOOLS FOR BLIND IN MEERUT, WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH
Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 14
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low vision and blindness are a growing health problems that adversely affect the quality of life of an individual. Currently, India is home to around one-third to one-fourth of the world’s blind population and childhood blindness makes a significant contribution to this. 1 MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in the Upgraded Department of Ophthalmology in LLRM Medical College, Meerut from July 2016 to June 2017. The study was done to survey the causes of low vision in students attending Blind Schools in Meerut, Western UP, to find out the percentage of preventable blindness amongst these students and to assess the acceptance of low vision aids in these students. In this study, 55 students of age group aged 5 to 18 yrs. with best Corrected Visual Acuity <= 6/18 (Snellen’s chart) were included. The causes of low vision were identified. For each child the need of optical, medical or surgical interventions was recorded. The acceptance of low vision aids was analysed. RESULTS Congenital ocular anomalies (mainly microphthalmos, anophthalmos, coloboma etc.) accounted for 55.45% of low vision. Corneal pathologies (20.90%) were the second most common cause of blindness. Treatable causes included cataract, glaucoma and amblyopia accounting for 14.54%. CONCLUSION Globe anomalies (40%) were found to be the most predominant anatomical cause of blindness in students followed by corneal pathologies (20.90%), retinal anomalies (12.72%), optic nerve pathology (11.81%), lens anomalies (7.27%) and uveal anomalies (3.63%). A total of 14.54% of eyes had treatable causes of low vision which included amblyopia, congenital glaucoma, cataract and pathological myopia. Almost, 32.72% of the students had preventable or treatable causes indicating the need of specific public health strategies.
Authors and Affiliations
Kritika Gogia, Jaishree Dwivedi, Sandeep Mithal, Alka Gupta, Lokesh Kr. Singh
Keywords
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- EP ID EP414315
- DOI 10.14260/jemds/2018/385
- Views 100
- Downloads 0
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