IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF OPHTHALMIC DISEASES AMONG SEAFOOD CONSUMERS AND OTHERS

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Heber A, K.Kalirajan, A J A Ranjitsingh , Arulanandham A

Abstract

Diet is a major lifestyle factor makes eyes healthy and assists with decreasing the risk of developing eye problems. This severe eye problem is less in people depending on seafood as it contains folic acid and vitamin B complex Omega-3-rich fish diet improves meibomian glands' functions, preventing dry eye formation. The two carotenoid pigments, Lutein, and zeaxanthin are essential for the retina and reduce age-related macular degeneration. For the study, people visiting a Tertiary care hospital studied their seafood and other food habits to find the relationship between their ocular problems and dietary background. Based on the seafood consumption frequency and quantity per week [0-500 g/week], they were further isolated for in-depth study for ocular defects. For comparison, another group of respondents who never or rarely used a seafood diet were also interviewed. In the present study, 164 respondents with some ocular issues (208 eyes) were isolated, and the epidemiology of different eye problems concerning seafood intake was recorded. The results show that the following vision-related complications, macular edema, optic neuropathy, myopia, double vision, dry eye syndrome, and color blindness were present among the respondents. Macular edema was reported less in respondents who consume 400-500 g seafood every week. Optic Neuropathy was also less in respondents consuming seafood above 400-500 g/week. Of the total myopia problem diagnosed in 56.7% of respondents who do not consume any seafood, but in people taking 400-500g of seafood, the incidence of was 10.0%. . Among the people diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, 16.7% was seen in people using 400-500 g of seafood/per week and 33.3% in people whom not using seafood in their diet. Pearson's coefficient of correlation analysis showed that for all the respondents with seafood eating habits, there is a negative correlation between the development of eye problems and the ρ ("rho") factor was less than 1 for all eye problems. All the ocular diseases diagnosed among the respondents showed poor infectivity among good seafood consumers. The present study indicates that a regular seafood diet is good for eye health and can prevent the epidemics of several eye diseases.

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