Abstract
In this study, risk assessment for visual disturbances among farm workers spraying agricultural pesticides in farms have been assessed. A cross-sectional study for the assessment of visual disturbances was undertaken using questionnaire survey and clinical examination among agricultural workers exposed to pesticides. Two hundred and thirty nine pesticide sprayers participated in the study. The study was compared to 110 controls not occupationally exposed to pesticides with similar socio-economic status. The prevalence of ocular morbidity was found to be 40% among pesticide sprayers which was significantly higher (p < 0.01) as compared to controls. The symptoms among morbid subjects were found to be blurred vision, lacrimation, pain in eyes, red swollen eyes, and irritation of eyes. Exposure wise assessment of ocular symptoms among pesticide sprayers illustrates that exposure time elevates the ocular problems among sprayers. The cholinesterase activity was found to be significantly depleted (p < 0.01) among pesticide sprayers as compared to controls which show the exposure of organophosphate pesticides among them. The visual disturbances observed among pesticide sprayers clearly exhibit that eyes get exposed by pesticides during spraying operations in agriculture and eventually get affected leading to ocular illness.