Visual field defects in epidemic dropsy.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Epidemic dropsy is a multi-system toxic disease caused by ingesting Argemone mexicana seeds.
• The condition affects cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, and ocular systems.
• Ocular manifestations include glaucoma and visual field defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of visual field defects in patients with epidemic dropsy glaucoma.
• To determine if visual field defects are associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) levels.
• To assess the impact of disease stage on visual field defect prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Visual field analysis using the Armaly full field glaucoma screening test on a Humphrey field analyzer.
• Patients were divided into three groups: epidemic dropsy with elevated IOP (Group I), epidemic dropsy with normal IOP (Group II), and healthy controls (Group III).
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured for all participants.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of eyes in both epidemic dropsy groups (68% with elevated IOP, 90% with normal IOP) exhibited visual field defects.
• Visual field defects were significantly more frequent in epidemic dropsy patients compared to controls.
• Defects occurred independently of elevated IOP and were more prevalent in early disease stages.

Conclusions:

• Acute visual field defects in epidemic dropsy are not solely dependent on increased intraocular pressure.
• Early detection and intervention are crucial as visual field defects are more pronounced in the early stages of the disease.
• Epidemic dropsy poses a significant risk for vision impairment, necessitating awareness and prompt management.