Pattern of paediatric ocular morbidity in tertiary care eye hospital of central India

Introduction: India is home to 310 million children between the age of 5-16 years accounting for 25.6% of country's population. Eye diseases in children are important cause of medical consultation. Children should receive prompt & proper eye care in order to avoid vision problems & eye morbidities, which could affect their learning ability, personality & adjustment in school. Data on the pattern of presentation of childhood eye diseases are needed for planning & evaluating preventive & curative services. Materials and Methods: The present prospective study was conducted in department of ophthalmology Government Medical college, Rajnandgaon (C.G.), India during the period 30 January 2016 to 29 January 2017. All the patients less than 15 years of age coming for consultation in OPD during the study period were included in our study. A complete history was taken from patients and their parents. Full ophthalmological evaluation was done by consultant ophthalmologist at first visit, refraction was done by optometrist. Data were collected from the past records taken at the time of patient's visit & collected data were analyzed. Results: A total of 530 children were enrolled for the study including 52.45% males & 47.55% females. In the present study overall refractive error was the most common (29.25%) ocular morbidity followed by allergic conjunctivitis (17.92%) & infection of eye and adnexa (14.72%). Allergic conjunctivitis was the second most common cause of ocular morbidity in children. Infections of eye & adnexa, which was the third most common cause of ocular morbidity in present study. Conclusion: In conclusion the most common causes of ocular morbidity in children were refractive error, allergic conjunctivitis, infection of eye & adnexa, congenital eye diseases & ocular trauma which can be either prevented or treated.