Occupational Hazards, Associated Ocular Morbidities and Impact of Refractive Safety Eyewear among Agriculture Workers in India - A Two State Study
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Published on: March 29, 2022
Suresh Janani1,2, Srinivasan Krithica3, Sachi B Saranya4
1Occupational Optometry Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Context:
Agriculture is one of the occupations with the highest risk of injuries and fatalities but the farmers are ignorant about eye care and eye safety.
Aim:
The current study aims at understanding the occupational hazard and ocular morbidities associated with agriculture and the effect of safety eyewear.
Settings And Design:
Multicenteric, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in two states of India: Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Subjects were agriculture workers recruited by convenience sampling.
Methods And Material:
The study was done in three phases: Phase 1: Visual task analysis (VTA), Phase 2: Comprehensive eye examination, and Phase 3: Spectacle compliance assessment. The Standard of Living Index scale was administered to assess the socioeconomic status of the participants.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
Results:
A study involving 276 workers (39.4% male, 65.2% female) found that VTA agricultural tasks were visually less demanding but hazardous, carrying the risk of ocular and nonocular injuries. Ocular injuries accounted for 9.4% (26 cases), while nonocular injuries accounted for 9.8% (27 cases). Spectacle compliance assessment revealed that 91.8% (157 out of 171 workers) reported improved visual comfort, reduced dust exposure, and enhanced safety with safety eyewear.
Conclusions:
This study illustrates numerous types of hazards associated with the occupation of farming. The study population had a 9.4% prevalence of ocular injuries. Refractive safety eyewear was reported to improve worker visual comfort.
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