PREVALENCE AND PATTERN OF CHILDHOOD OCULAR MORBIDITY IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH

Introduction: Vision is crucial for the developmental milestones of children, impacting their learning abilities and overall quality of life. Childhood ocular morbidities, if left undetected, can lead to severe disabilities, including blindness. Worldwide, vision disabilities affect 285 million people, with childhood blindness being a significant contributor to years lived with disability.Understanding the pattern of ocular morbidity in children is essential for timely intervention and management.Aim & Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of ocular morbidity among children aged 5-14 years presenting at the outpatient department of ophthalmology in a tertiary care hospital. Specific objectives include assessing the socioeconomic status and demographic distribution (rural/urban) of the children and their parents, as well as evaluating the literacy levels of the parents.Methodology: This cross-sectional study will be conducted over one year at the OPD of the Upgraded Department of Ophthalmology, LLRM Medical College,Meerut.A sample size of 320 children will be randomly selected from outpatient and emergency departments. Data collection will include demographic details, socioeconomic status,literacy levels of parents,and ocular morbidity patterns. Statistical analysis will involve chi-squared tests and logistic regression as appropriate.Result: The study found a diverse pattern of ocular morbidities among children, with refractive errors being the most common issue, followed by infective conjunctivitis and vitamin A deficiency. Socioeconomic factors and rural/urban residence significantly influenced the prevalence of certain morbidities. These findings underscore the importance of early detection and targeted interventions to mitigate childhood blindness and improve overall visual health outcomes. Conclusion:The study provides a comprehensive insight into the pattern of ocular morbidity among children aged 5-14 years presenting to the ophthalmology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. The findings underscore the significant prevalence of refractive errors, particularly myopia and hypermetropia, as the leading causes of ocular morbidity in this age group. Socioeconomic factors, such as low socioeconomic status and urban residence, correlate significantly with certain ocular conditions like vitamin A deficiency and refractive errors. Gender-based differences were observed in the distribution of allergic conjunctivitis cases,emphasizing potential gender-specific susceptibility to certain ocular conditions.