DR. MAGNA MARY KURUVILA

Dr.Sunil Biradar

Abstract

The knowledge about eye diseases need to be educated among people in the rural areas. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ocular morbidities and to reduce visual impairment in patients presenting to eye camps in the rural areas. A total of 877 patients were examined through eye camps in rural Vijayapura over a period of one year. Patients belonging to all age groups were examined using torch light and magnifying loupe. Procedures like fundoscopy, tonometry, sac syringing were performed. It was revealed that females had higher occurrence of ocular diseases (60%). Refractive error being the primary ocular morbidity (34%) had a bimodal presentation, 11-20 years and 41-50 years, followed by cataract (23.5%) common among 61-70 years. In conclusion, the area had a higher burden of preventable blindness. The need of newer strategies for the timely detection of ocular diseases and provision of visual rehabilitatory measures to poor rural population are required.