OCULAR FINDING IN DENGUE PATIENTS

Background: To find out ocular findings in dengue patients during dengue epidemic of 2022 in Pakistan. Descriptive Cross-sectional study at ophthalmology Department, DHQ Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala from 1st October, 2022 to 31st December 2022 (3 months). Method: After taking informed consent and approval from ethical review committee, all patients presented in the dengue ward were enrolled in this study who were tested positive for IGG And IGM antibodies. Demographic data like, age, gender, platelet count, visual acuity, anterior segment and posterior segment evaluation were recorded of all patients. All patients of hypertension, diabetes and other comorbidities were excluded from study. Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS Version 25. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in this study out of which 114 (75%) were males and 138 (25%) were females. Age range was 13 to 69 years. Maximum number of patients were found to be in the age range of 15-45 years. Maximum patients had platelet count range of 50-150/um. The most obvious ocular symptoms were subconjunctival hemorrhage (35%) followed by retinal hemorrhages (24%). Conclusion: Subconjunctival hemorrhage is most common ocular finding in dengue patients followed by retinal hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia predisposes to spontaneous ocular hemorrhages.