Mahmooda Soni, Jahanzeb Durrani, Zahid Jadoon.
Pattern of Common Eye Diseases in Children Visiting Eye Department at Govt. Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital, Peshawar.
Ophthalmol Update Jan ;13(4):262-6.

Purpose: To assess the pattern of common eye diseases in children visiting the eye OPD at NBM Hospital Peshawar, to help in planning eye care services and to develop health policies for children in this community to redress preventable and blinding disorders in children. Material & Methods: A retrospective analysis of the OPD data over the previous 4 years 2010-2014 taking into consideration the presenting complaints, gender, age 0-16 years, visual acuity aided and unaided, refractive errors, signs of eye diseases involving anterior segment of the eye and ocular alignment. Results: In total 3160 children were seen between 2010-2014 Male were 1896 (60%), female were 1264 (40%) and 632 (20%) were less than 1 years, 1074(34%) were 1-7 years,1454 (46%) were 7-15 years. The commonest eye problem seen was refractive errors 41.45%. Hypermetropia resulting in accommodative esotropia accounted for (26.5%) with a male preponderance. Astigmatism and myopia was seen in 15% between 2-7 years of age. Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) was the most common disorder seen (16%) in children below in one year with no lateral or sexual predilection. This was followed by Bacterial Conjunctivitis (19%) Vernal Kerato Conjunctivitis (14.8%) and Ocular trauma was seen in 131 patients (4%). Vitamin A deficiency was seen in (2.9%) and others such as congenital cataract in (0.5%) Amblyopia, (0.3%) Keratitis and Corneal opacity (0.3%) Ophthalmia Neonatorum (0.4%) Pre-septal cellulites, Styes, and Chalazion in (0.7%). Conclusion: Refractive accommodative Esotropia with underlying hyperopia was the most common eye problem encountered with male preponderance followed by conjunctivitis, VKC, and refractive errors in 1-7 yrs old. Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction was a common disorder seen below 1 year old, Vit. A deficiency was seen in (2.9%). Further studies are required to determine the aetiology, risk factors associated with these conditions. Health policies need to be modified to develop large scale more effective intervention measures to prevent blinding eye condition such as Amblyopia (a preventable cause of unilateral / bilateral blindness) associated with refractive accommodative squint by refraction and spectacle correction. Prevent Vitamin A deficiency in children and ocular trauma by public health education and School health services. Vit ?A? capsules should be distributed with polio vaccination to VAD deficient children to decrease ocular morbidity from this condition.

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