International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research Volume 3 | Issue 11 | November 2016 | ICV (2015): 77.83 | ISSN (Online): 2393-915X; (Print): 2454-7379 3192 www.ijcmr.com Epidemiology of Optic Atrophy among the Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital, Ongole, Prakasham District, AP D Babu Rao 1 , C Bala Krishna 2 ORIGINAL RESEARCH ABSTRACT Introduction: Blindness is one of the most disabling conditions and commonest of public health problems. Most of the eye conditions may lead to involvement of optic nerve. Multiple etiological factors cause damage of optic nerve manifested as loss of vision. The present study was done to study various epidemiological variables in relation to optic atrophy. Material and Methods: The study conducted in Ophthalmic Department of RIMS, Ongole, Prakasham District, A.P. The study conducted during 2015-16. GOI initiated a programme of SADAREM to provide beneit to disabled. The disabled people directed to specialty hospital located in head quarter for screening and complete examination for certifying type of disability and degree of disability for assisting socially and economically poor. During study period 149 patients screened for anterior and posterior segment pathology. As per the ophthalmic disability format of GOI Results: The total number of disabled with ophthalmic reason referred from all over the district during study period was 811. Among the disabled 149 were having optic atrophy (OA). Disability was assessed through the criteria ixed by the GOI in the format designed in SADAREM Programme. The study group was in the range of 16 to 60 years. 70% of the study subjects were males. 78 percent of the referred were illiterate and 32 percent were unemployed. Consecutive optic atrophy 40 percent and in 21 percent both glaucoma and consecutive OA were observed in the better eye. In 31 percent of cases glaucoma (primary glaucoma) was associated inding with OA. Conclusion: Periodic screening, early diagnosis and timely management in the high risk individuals can reduce disability due to OA. Keywords: SADAREM, Disability, Optic atrophy (OA), Glaucoma INTRODUCTION Optic atrophy is one of the commonest public health problems of eye. It is one of the earliest signs of ophthalmic disability. In addition to posterior segment pathology, majority of eye conditions of anterior segment inally ended with optic nerve involvement. Prevalence of OA is in community based survey conducted in South India was 3.42 percent. 49 percent presented with defective vision. 1,2 Multiple factors are responsible for OA. In 89 percent of cases the cause is unknown. This condition is manifested in the form of pale disc, vision impairment and with ield defects. The causes of OA can be classiied into primary, secondary with infection and inlammation etc., and consecutive due to ocular diseases. The present study conducted to know prevalence of OA among the patients referred to tertiary care hospital Under SADAREM programme and the degree of disability assessed to assist socially and economically deprived people. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted in Department of Ophthalmology, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Ongole, PrakashamDitrict of AP. The study was carried out in 2015. The study population was all the referred disabled subjects to the department of ophthalmology from the district for certiication of the degree of disability. The format designed for SADAREM Programme was used for collection of ophthalmic data of referred disabled people from all over the district. The basic information of study people was obtained through interview. All the visually impaired and disabled were examined for detecting underlying pathology and degree of disability. Best corrected visual acuity was recorded by using logarithm of minimum angle of resolution charts at 4 meters and 1 meter distances. Landolt's chart of C was used for illiterates. Counting of ingers, hand movement and light perception methods were followed for those VA could not be measured. The ophthalmic specialist examined all the cases for anterior segment and posterior segment pathology by using slit lamp, plain mirror examination at one meter distance, and by using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. The data compiled in excel sheet and analyzed. RESULTS During the study period, 811 disabled were attended for certiication. In the study population, through screening 149 were identiied with optic atrophy. The study population was consisting of different age groups. Children in the age group of below 15 years were 4%. 71% of the study population was in the age group of 16-60 years. 16% of the study group was belonging to 61-75 years. Above 75 years were 3% in the study subjects. Among the study population 104 (70%) were males and 45 (30%) females. 116 (78%) of the screened people were illiterate. 14 (9%) of subjects had up to secondary level of education. 5 (12%) of them were with intermediate level of education. Degree and Post Graduate level of education was seen in 9 (6%) and 4 (3%). The main occupation of the study subjects was self-employment 95 (64%). 3 (2%) of the study group was both in Government 1 Formerly Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, RIMS, Ongole, Prakasham District, AP, 2 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Hyderabad, TS, India Corresponding author: Dr D. Babu Rao, Formerly Associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Ongole, Prakasham District, Andhra Pradesh, India How to cite this article: D Babu Rao, C Bala Krishna. Epidemiology of optic atrophy among the patients attending a tertiary care hospital, Ongole, Prakasham District, AP. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2016;3(11):3192-3194.