title: Spectrum of ocular diseases in patients attending eye camps in Andaman and Nicobar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Andaman and Nicobar Island is a group of 572 islands with a population of 3,80,500. The only service hospital as well as govt hospital is situated at its capital, Portblair. The islands are interconnected only by sea passage and to reach the capital by this route it sometimes takes two days.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of this study is to assess the spectrum of different ocular diseases in remote islands of Andaman and Nicobar. Author had conducted various camps on these remote islands as a community outreach programme over two years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Top eye diseases found were refractive error (35%), cataract (22%), conjunctival infammatory disease (15%), glaucoma cases (07%), pterygium (07%), NLDO (02%) and uveitis (02%). Out of total 132 cataract patients screened, 32 patients (approximately 24%) were operated in INHS Dhanvantari at free of cost with help of NPCB (National Programme for Control of Blindness).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first kind of study conducted on these remote islands to know the prevalence of different ocular diseases. The important point to be seen in this study was unawareness of glaucoma and cataract load. No optometrist was posted in the PHCs to provide primary eye care like prescribing glasses, which is also a big concern.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Ophthalmology), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor & Head, (Ophthalmology) & Vitreo Retinal Surgeon, Command Hospital (Air Force), Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Joint Secretary, NPCB, GB Pant Hospital, Portblair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744104, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Resident (Ophthalmology), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bengaluru, India.
authors.lastname: Ranjeev
keywords: Andaman and Nicobar; Cataract; Glaucoma; Refractive error