Various causes of blindness in patients coming for physically handicapped certificate

Abstract

Introduction: Various conditions causing blindness ranges from congenital or acquired.Congenital causes are developmental abnormalities like coloboma, nanophthalmos, congenital glaucoma,congenital cataract. Acquired causes like macular degeneration,phthisis bulbi, corneal opacity,retinitis pigmentosa,optic atrophy etc. affecting one or both eyes making the patient mild to severely handicapped. Methods: The present study was undertaken to find out the effects of the active principle extracted from the seeds of Peganum harmala on isolated smooth muscle and skeletal muscle preparations and the probable mechanism of action Statistical analysis: percentages and proportions .statistical analysis was done by SPSS 16 software Results: Out of 215 patients, 154cases (72%) were male and 61cases (28%) are females. 80 (37%) cases were between 41-60years age group. 22%cases were congenital and 78% cases were acquired. Among congenital cases 16 cases were retinitis pigmentosa, 10cases were amblyopia and 10 cases nystagmus, 5 cases with congenital malformations. Among acquired causes, 71cases (33%) were corneal opacities, 10cases (5%) were age related macular degeneration, 20cases (9%) were pthysis bulbi. Majority of them were agriculture workers 143cases (67%). Conclusion: With this study, we can identify various causes affecting the vision of the patient. By knowing extent of the disability either we can counsel the patient those who having sufficient vision to deliver the work or we can recommend the patients those who are really blind for the pension scheme. In turn we can reduce their financial burden to the family and society.

Keywords

• causes
• economic burden
• blindness