Rare Retinal Disorders-A Study from a Hilly State

Abstract

To study the pattern/distribution of retinal detachments and tumors in the hilly terrain of Himachal Pradesh (altitude ranging from 500-4500 metres above sea level). Material and Methods: It is a retro/prospective study of patients with retinal diseases attending the general ophthalmology clinic of a tertiary care facility at Shimla from August 2008 to April 2013. Out of 5600 subjects, 4323 were taken as a sample. The data was taken from the hospital records and thereafter analyzed to determine their age, sex distribution and diagnosis. All patients underwent visual acuity, refraction, slit lamp examination and fundus evaluation. The diagnosis was confirmed from fundus clinic records and evaluation of fundus photographic records retro-prospectively. The photographs were taken on the fundus camera (KOWA’S FUNDUS CAMERA VX-10) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) done where ever indicated. Since this study is aimed to project the pattern of retinal detachments and tumors, other retinal disorders are not included here. Amongst the 47 (1.08%) subjects of Retinal detachments, the most common entity was Non Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (NRD). Amongst the 9 (0.21%) subjects of Ocular Tumors, Choroidal Melanoma (CHM) was the predominant disease. Retinal detachments and tumors also appear to be a public health problem in India as well as the Shimla hills. The present study shall help us in planning the management of such disorders in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh to reduce the visual morbidity arising out of such disorders.