An Indian epidemiological overview of ocular emergencies of the year 2022

AbstractAim and Objective: This study aimed to provide an epidemiological overview of ocular emergencies that occurred in India in the year 2022. The study analyzed the demographic, clinical, and etiological characteristics of patients who presented with ocular emergencies to various eye care facilities across the country. The study also evaluated the outcomes and complications of ocular emergencies and identified the risk factors and preventive measures for reducing their incidence and severity. Method In this retrospective study, we extracted data from the NPCBVI online portal Niramaya and calculated the frequency, percentage, and incidence rates of ocular emergencies according to various demographic and geographic variables. Results In India, more males (55.9%) than females (44.1%) were blind. The age group with the highest frequency of blindness was 15–49 years (40%), followed by 50–69 years (30%), ≥ 70 years (20%) and < 15 years (10%). Most of the blind people lived in rural areas (70%), while only 30% lived in urban areas. The states/UTs with the highest frequency of blindness were Uttar Pradesh (12.3%), Maharashtra (10.5%), Bihar (8.7%), West Bengal (7.4%) and Madhya Pradesh (6.8%). The remaining states/UTs accounted for 54.3% of the blind population. The most common causes of blindness were trauma (32.8%), infection/inflammation (34.5%) and glaucoma (24.7%). Other causes make up 8% of the total. Conclusion We concluded that ocular emergencies are a significant public health problem in India, and additional research is needed to understand their epidemiology and management.