OCULAR MORBIDITY AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG MARBLE MINEWORKERS

Mufarriq Shah; Muhammad Suliman; Shoaib Asmat; Shazia Noreen; Daud Jan; Yumna Tariq

doi:10.46903/1967.2014.2017

OCULAR MORBIDITY AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG MARBLE MINEWORKERS

Mufarriq Shah, Muhammad Suliman, Shoaib Asmat, Shazia Noreen, Daud Jan, Yumna Tariq

Abstract

Background: The marble industry and stone quarries affect the health of workers in the industry and have a negative effect on those living in the area of the industry, the whole ecosystem, and public health as a whole. This study aimed to determine the ocular morbidities and associated risk factors in marble mineworkers.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at different mining sectors in District Buner, included participants aged 18 and above. Participants underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, including a detailed history of the work category, work duration, ocular symptoms, and ocular morbidities such as conjunctivitis, cataracts, and pterygium. SPSS software was used for analysis. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to assess associations between occupational characteristics and ocular morbidity.

Results: Most of the total 88 participants were in the age group of 18 to 30 years (n =37; 42%). Three-fourths (n = 66; 75%) of the participants were educated. Factory workers contributed to 29.5%. Among the participants, 30.7% (n= 27) had work experience of less than 5 years at the site and 19.3 % (n = 17) had 20 years or more work experience. There was a significant association of ocular symptoms with work experience (p = 0.00) but no significant association of ocular symptoms with working indoors, outdoors, or both (p = 0.623). Corneal opacities were the most common anterior segment morbidities, found in 38.6% of participants in the right eye and 22.7% in the left eye, followed by pterygium (10.2 %). None of the participants was using any protective eyewear.

Conclusion: Corneal opacities and pterygium were common in marble workers. Using personal protective equipment could reduce ocular complications in marble mineworkers by preventing ocular hazards.

Keywords: Marble mining, corneal opacities, pterygium, pinguecula, refractive errors.

Keywords

Marble mining, corneal opacities, pterygium, pinguecula, refractive errors.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/1967.2014.2017