A cross-sectional study to assess the morbidity pattern of ocular diseases in out-patient department of ophthalmology at a tertiary care hospital

Background: In developing countries like India lower socioeconomic status and lack of proper eye care are responsible for increase in the number of preventable and avoidable causes of blindness as compared to developed countries of the world. One-third of India's blind population lose their eyesight before 20 years of age. Therefore, early detection and treatment of ocular morbidity is important. The best option to reduce ocular morbidity is to bring eye care services to their doorsteps in the form of outreach programs. The aim of the study was to assess the morbidity pattern of ocular disease in the region, which will show the trend of ocular morbidities in our society and help to provide basic data for planning and provision of adequate eye care services, appropriate treatment and intervention for management of these diseases.Methods: This was a prospective and cross-sectional type of study which has been conducted in Department of Ophthalmology, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital. For the study, total of 600 patients who attended OPD of Ophthalmology, GMCH, Udaipur have been taken in the duration of 1 year i.e. 2013-2014.Results: Out of 600 patients majority (50.67%) of the patients were found to be in the age group of 30-60 years and there was no sex preponderance as ratio of male to female was found to be 1.2:1 among the patients which shows that common eye diseases are usually not sex linked but may be linked with age. Distribution of diseases treated in OPD showed that allergic conjunctivitis (43.33%) was the most common disease followed by infective conjunctivitis (14.00%) which was found to be the second most common problem. Other common ocular diseases were anterior blepharitis (12.33%), stye or hordeolum externum (7.5%) and vernal conjunctivitis (6%).Conclusions: It has been observed that allergic conjunctivitis is the most common disease due to hot and dry environment, dust and more of pollution due to marble mining in the region. Thus this study gives the picture of morbidity pattern of ocular disease in the region which is helpful in planning and management.