Title: Childhood Blindness and Subnormal Vision- Evaluation and Management at AVBRH – A Rural Hospital Based Study
Authors: Dr Prachee Nagrale, Dr Mala Kamble, Dr Pradeep Sune, Dr Somya Dulani
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v3i12.05
Abstract
Vision is the most important special sense in human being. Normal vision is essential for normal physical, mental, psychological development and education childhood blindness refers to a group of disease and conditions occurring in childhood which if left untreated results in blindness or severe visual impairment later in life so this study is done to find out prevalence of blindness and subnormal vision in paediatric age group, to evaluate the main site of abnormality leading to visual loss and, to treat and evaluate the prognosis for these visually subnormal or blind children, and to visually rehabilitate children to best possible extent. Total 600 paediatric patients from age group 0-16 years attending eye OPD at AVBH, Sawangi(Meghe), Wardha with complaints of blindness or subnormal vision having visual acuity less than 6/18 were included in this study. Thus we found the cases as contract (Congenital, Developmental, traumatic) 16%,Refractive error 15.33%,Congenital global anamolies (Microphthalmos, Anaphthalmos) 4.99%,Ptosis 11.6%,Corneal disorders (opacity, keratoconus) 10.48%Posterior segment pathologies – 7.29%,Amblyopia 13.33%, Ocular trauma 3%, Idiopathic Nystagmas 3.66%, Xerophthalmia 4.16%,Therefore Preventable causes of blindness can be tackled by vitamin A supplementation, rubella & measles immunization. Treatable causes needs early detection and immediate treatment for improvement of ultimate visual prognosis in cases such as congenital cataract, uncorrected refractive errors, amblyopia, congenital glaucoma. Creating public awareness and screening programms in community and school is essential for early detection and management.
Key words: Childhood blindness, early detection, early treatment, awareness programms
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