Age ant! Sex Distribution

Summary: Study of visual pattern in ethambutol treated tubercular patients based on observations made in 680 cases reveals definite change of visual pattern in the form of diminution of vision and change in normal relative extent for green colour field of vision in 81 patients of whom only 24 com-plained of some visual disturbance. Ethambutol, though previously used as a second line drug, is now one of the standard anti-tubercular drugs. The drug, however, has a definite toxic effect on the eyes as reported in literature (Corpe & Blalock 1965, Citron 1969). Since only a few patients complain of visual disturbances during the course of etham-butol therapy, the present study was undertaken to find out the exact magnitude of the problem, assuming that some patients may have some visual disturbance but may not complain of it. The study was conducted at Nehru Hospita