OCULAR PATHOLOGY OF HYPEROPIC PATIENTS PRESENTING TO THE TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE

Purpose:To study the ocular pathology of hyperopic patients presenting to the tertiary health care centre.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study that involved 60 eyes of 30 patients with hypermetropia complaining of diminution of vision with asthenopic symptoms like tiredness of eyes, frontal or frontotemporal headache, watering and mild photophobia. There were three groups based on the criteria of age, i.e, <20 years, 20-40 years, 40-60 years with each group comprising of 10 patients. Complete ophthalmic examination was done in diffuse light followed by direct and indirect opthalmoscopic examination.

Results:There were 15 males and 15 females. The common hypermetropiarelated findings in patients varying between age of 0-20 years was strabismus and amblyopia. Recurrent styes, recurrent blepharitis infection, recurrent chalazion were seen in equal proportions in all age groups. Primary open angle glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma were reported more in adults ranging between 20-40 years and 40-60 years.Fundus examination in high hypermetropic patients revealed a small optic disc with ill defined margins simulating papillitis which is pseudopapillitis because there is no swelling of the disc and the retina shines due to greater brilliance of light reflections giving shot silk appearance of retina.

Conclusion:Hyperopia also termed hypermetropia or farsightedness, is a common refractive error in children and adults. Its effect on an individual and the symptoms produced varies greatly, depending on the magnitude of hyperopia, the age of the individual, the status of the accommodative and convergence system, and the demands placed on the visual system. Individuals with uncorrected hyperopia may experience symptoms such as blurred vision, asthenopia (e.g., headaches and eyestrain) while reading, accommodative/binocular dysfunction, amblyopia, and/or strabismus. Furthermore, uncorrected amblyopia in case of adults can lead to various complications like open angle or angle closure glaucoma, uveal effusion syndrome, non arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, age related macular degeneration, etc.