PREVELANCE OF ASTIGMATISM IN NORTHEN INDIA CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Ragni Kumara*

ABSTRACT

Purpose:
The prevalence of astigmatism, and the astigmatic axis, and their determinants were evaluated in a rural
population of Lucknow. Materials and Methods: The participants of this cross sectional study were selected
between May and August 2023 in the rural areas of Lucknow. 11 villages were selected for this study, and all of
their residents were examined. As soon as the villages had been selec ted, ophthalmologists and optometrists visited
each village on a predetermined schedule. All the examinations including visual acuity, refraction, slit lamp
biomicroscopy and fundoscopy were performed in a Mobile Eye Clinic. Written informed consent was ob tained
from all participants. Only phakic eye that could be reliably refracted without a previous history of ocular surgery
were included. Results: Out of 2635 participants who were screened, 2124 were analysed for this study of whom
52% were female. The p revalence of astigmatism was 32.2% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 30.2 34.2).
Astigmatism significantly increased from 14.3% in the under 15 year old age group to 67.2% in the age group of
over 65 years old (P < 0.001). The prevalence of With The Rule (WT R), Against The Rule (ATR), and oblique
astigmatism was 11.7%, 18.1%, and 2.4 %, respectively. ATR significantly increased with age (P < 0.001). The
mean corneal astigmatism was 0.73 D which linearly increased with age (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Attention mu st
be paid to astigmatism in rural areas due to the high prevalence. Further studies are suggested to discover the role
of the environmental and genetic factors. It seems that environmental and occupational factors in the villages cause
a significant incre ase in the prevalence of astigmatism with age. A high percentage of participants had ATR
astigmatism, which was more common at older ages.

Keywords: Astigmatism, Refractive error, Prevalence, Rural.