S R Lavanya

Abstract

Aim: The study was done to know demographic patterns, causative factors in visually disabled persons residing in Gadag, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective study. Both male and female visually disabled people who attended low vision clinic for disability certificate were included even if they had multiple disability. Visual disability < 30> Results: Total 323 persons were included. 214 (66%) were male, 109(34%) were female persons. Mean age was 37.52 years. Age < 15> 45 years were 101 (31%). 77(24%) belong to the general category, 198(61%) belong to other backward castes, and 48 (15%) belong to sc/st. Among the persons > 15 years, 43 (15%) graduated and 65(23%) were illiterates. Majority (45%) are unemployed. Among the ones who are employed mainly work as music teachers and agricultural coolies.258 (80%) belong to BPL. 255(79%) did not have any comorbidities. 157(49%) had complete blindness. 52% were blind and 48% were belong to low vision category. Refractive errors and retinal pathology were together constituting 54% of the cases. Congenital and hereditary cases constituted 75% of the cases. Visual acuity was alone affected in 36(11%) cases visual fields alone in 15(5%) cases, and both were affected in 271(84%) cases. Conclusion: Visually disabled persons in our study showed male preponderance. Few were employed as music artists and teachers and majority were illiterates refractive errors and retinal pathology were major reasons.   Keywords: Low vision, Visual disability.

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Abstract

Introduction: The purpose was to study the diagnostic yield of the various tests including lid fatigue test, Cogan twitch, Rest test, Ice test and Repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) study in clinically diagnosed myasthenic patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of newly diagnosed myasthenic patients was done at tertiary eye - care centre. Totally, 58 patients underwent tests for the confirmation of myasthenia gravis. Fishers Exact test was used for comparative analysis. Results: Average age of presentation was 44.13 years. Number of male and female were 33 (56.9%) and 25 (43.1%). 8 (13.8%) patients were under the age of 15 years. Variability was observed in 47/58 (81.04%) patients and Fatigue was seen in 40 /58(68.97%) patients. Cogan twitch was observed in 28/58(48.28%) patients. Sensitivity of Rest test was 50%. Sensitivity of Ice test was 72.4%. Ice test positivity was 90% (9/10) in mild, 75% (21/28) in moderate, 68.75% (11/16) in severe ptosis indicating that increasing severity decreases the sensitivity. Sensitivity of combined Rest test and ice test was 90 %. Sensitivity of RNS study was 90%. The difference between the RNS study and Ice test was not statistically significant (p- 0.583). However RNS study showed higher percentage of positivity. Conclusion: Ice test is more sensitive than rest test. Rest test and Ice test are simple, cost benefit bed side tests when combined, have sensitivity equivalent to RNS study. However RNS study is the gold standard confirmatory test. Keywords: Cogan Twitch, Ice Test, Myasthenia, Rest Test.

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