Measuring the burden of ocular morbidity.
This hospital-based study highlights the spectrum of eye ailments in 35,273 patients who attended the Department of Ophthalmology at the B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Eastern Nepal, during a 5-year period with varied clinical diagnosis. The attendance each year showed a progressive increase with a male preponderance. More than 13% of the patients were children. Cataract was the most common problem for which patients needed ophthalmic advice; diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy were frequent occurrences and infection was a common problem. Over 21% of the eyes examined had a refractive error: as high as 2.54% were amyblyopic caused by non-correction of refractive errors. Allergic conjunctivitis was frequently encountered. As shown by the magnitude of the problem, the existing eye care facilities must be enhanced and new strategies developed.
Panda
Anita
A
Department of Ophthalmology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. anitap49@yahoo.com
Upadhyay
M P
MP
Kumar
Narayan
N
Badhu
B
B
Koirala
Shekhar
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D009885:Ophthalmology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution