DR.YURI KASHIV

DR. SWARNA BISERIA GUPTA, DR.HARPAL SINGH, DR.KISHORI LAL GUPTA

Abstract

AIMS—

.TO ASSESS THE CLINICAL IMPACT OF ARMD

.TO ASSESS THE CAUSE OF LOSS TO FOLLOWUP

. TO COUNSEL THE PATIENTS FOR REGULARITY

METHOD—

. 280 PATIENTS OF AMD OF AGE GROUP 55YRS TO 75YRS, STUDIED, FROM MARCH11 TO FEB16,

FOLLOWUP DONE EVERY 6 MTHLY, IN A TEACHING INSTITUTION OF STATE. LOST IN FOLLOWUP TAKEN AS PATIENTS MISSING FOR TWO CONSEQUENTLY FOLLOW UP, AND DID NOT ATTEND HOSPITAL AFTERWARDS, WITHOUT ANY INFORMATION.

.CAUSES OF MISSED FOLLOWUP EVALUATED.

RESULTS—

30% PATIENTS LEFT FOLLOWUP OVER 4YRS, RATE OF LOSS OF FOLLOW UP DECREASES WITH AGE,HIGH INCOME GROUP, GOOD VISUAL ACQUITY LEADS TO HIGH RATE OF ABSENCE FROM FOLLOW UP, ALONG WITHMULTIPLE SYSTEM INVOLVMENT, TRATMENT MODALITIES AND LONG DISTANT CONSULTATION.

CONCLUSION-

TREATMENT AND MONITORING OF AMD IS CRITICAL TO PREVENT VISUAL LOSS. MOST PSYCHOPHYSICAL TOOLS ARE POOR INDICATORS FOR CONTINUING TREATMENT, HAVE TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY TO PREVENT VISUAL LOSS.