Prevalence of ocular morbidity among industrial workers of Eastern Nepal

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ocular morbidity among industrial workers. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in four industries of Koshi Province. The demographic information gathered encompassed details such as age and gender. Employment-related factors included the nature of work, years of experience, and the type of industry. Economic considerations, such as monthly pay scale and job responsibilities, were also explored. Educational background and awareness of ocular hazards in the workplace, along with knowledge about safety devices, constituted crucial components of the survey. Comprehensive ocular examinations, along with assessments for color vision, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis, were carried out on-site in collaboration with the outreach team of Biratnagar Eye Hospital. A structured schedule was administered through face-to-face interviews and documented. Results: In the present study, A total of 359 industrial workers were screened; among them, 321 (89%) were male, and 38 (11%) were Female, with a mean age of 43.72 ± 10.18. The majority of them were from 40 to 49 years of age group 135 (37.6%). The overall prevalence of ocular morbidity among the workers was 289, (80.50%). The highest rate of ocular morbidity was seen in sugar industry 98, (89.9%) followed by the jute industry 85, (80.18%), the soap industry 59, (74.68%), and the dairy industry 47, (72.30%). Presbyopia 166, (46.23%) emerged as the most common ocular morbidity among all workers. A history of ocular injuries was found in 115, (32%) of workers, and only 19% of workers used ocular safety devices. The main reason for not using ocular safety devices was due to unavailability (65%). Conclusion: The research highlights a significant prevalence of ocular morbidity among industrial workers, with presbyopia emerging as the most common ocular disorder.