Manoher Jayshri M, Kumar Ashok
Department of Ophthalmology, Sub District Hospital, Didwana, Nagaur, Rajasthan, India.
Department of Ophthalmology, Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
J Family Med Prim Care. 2022 Jun;11(6):2620-2626. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1880_21. Epub 2022 Jun 30.
Arc welders have a higher prevalence of ocular disorders than the general population. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of ocular disorders due to chronic exposure to arc welding in occupational welders.
Ninety welders and ninety nonwelders took part in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic information was obtained in the community, and a detailed ophthalmic examination was done in tertiary care hospitals.
The mean (SD) age of the welders was 33.13 (11.57) years, whereas the mean age (SD) of controls was 33.13 (10.57) years ( = 0.901). The majority (93.33%) of welders had at least one ocular manifestation, which was higher than the nonwelders, i.e., 26.67% ( < 0.01). Among welders, the most common conjunctival manifestation was congestion (36.11%). The prevalence of phototoxic maculopathy was found at 56.67% among welders and 7.78% among nonwelders ( < 0.01). All the welders used to wear only goggles as protective equipment. Prevalence of maculopathy was found to be lower among strictly adherent welders than occasional users. None of the sociodemographic variables was found associated with strict usage of goggles among welders.
Chronic exposure to arc welding is associated with increased ocular disorders including phototoxic maculopathy. Policies regarding personal protective equipment usage and safety at workplaces should be implemented rigorously, even in small-scale, unorganized sectors.
电弧焊工眼部疾病的患病率高于普通人群。本研究旨在确定职业焊工长期接触电弧焊导致的眼部疾病的患病率和模式。
90名焊工和90名非焊工参与了这项横断面研究。在社区获取社会人口统计学信息，并在三级护理医院进行详细的眼科检查。
焊工的平均（标准差）年龄为33.13（11.57）岁，而对照组的平均年龄（标准差）为33.13（10.57）岁（P = 0.901）。大多数（93.33%）焊工至少有一种眼部表现，高于非焊工，即26.67%（P < 0.01）。在焊工中，最常见的结膜表现是充血（36.11%）。焊工中光毒性黄斑病变的患病率为56.67%，非焊工中为7.78%（P < 0.01）。所有焊工仅佩戴护目镜作为防护设备。发现严格遵守规定的焊工中黄斑病变的患病率低于偶尔使用者。未发现任何社会人口统计学变量与焊工严格使用护目镜有关。
长期接触电弧焊与包括光毒性黄斑病变在内的眼部疾病增加有关。即使在小规模、无组织的部门，也应严格执行关于个人防护设备使用和工作场所安全的政策。
