Burden of Ocular Diseases among Tobacco Industry Employees in Bangladesh

Introduction: Ocular morbidity is increasingly recognized among tobacco industry workers due to chronic exposure to unburnt tobacco dust, volatile organic compounds, and chemical additives. These exposures may lead to conjunctivitis, keratitis, cataract, optic neuropathy, and refractive abnormalities. However, evidence from Bangladesh remains limited despite the large workforce engaged in tobacco processing. Objective: There for the aim is to evaluate the pattern of ocular morbidity among the tobacco industry workers in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from February 2024 to September 2025 among workers from two tobacco factories using consecutive sampling. Sociodemographic characteristics, occupational history, lifestyle factors, and systemic comorbidities were recorded. Comprehensive ophthalmic examination included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), near vision assessment, refraction, and anterior and posterior segment evaluation. Data were analyzed to assess associations between ocular morbidity and age, sex, and educational status. Results: The mean age of participants was 43.17±13.88 years, with a predominance of females (70.1%) and illiterate workers (58.4%). Most participants maintained normal distant (over 90%) and near vision (approximately 87%) after correction. Refractive errors were detected in 24.2%, and presbyopia was present in 46.0%. Cataract was the most common ocular morbidity (approximately 9.6% overall including unilateral and bilateral cases), followed by conjunctivitis and other anterior segment disorders. Posterior segment diseases were relatively rare but increased significantly with age. Refractive error and anterior segment diseases were significantly associated with advancing age and male sex (p<0.05), whereas educational status showed no statistically significant association. Conclusion: This study revealed that tobacco industry workers were predominantly middle-aged females with low educational attainment, representing a vulnerable group. Although ocular comorbidities and history of ocular trauma or surgery were uncommon, lifestyle factors such as betel nut use were frequent and may contribute to ocular health risks. Most participants maintained good distant and near vision, yet a considerable number had refractive errors, presbyopia, and varying degrees of visual impairment. Cataract emerged as the most common ocular morbidity, followed by conjunctivitis and other less frequent but clinically relevant disorders. Medicine Today 2026, Vol.38 (2): 185-192