Evaluation of ocular diseases among young males in a military clinical setting according to anatomical parts of the eye

1. Yener Celik¹
2. Mustafa Gurkan Erdogan²
3. Ali Hakan Durukan³
4. Huseyin Bayramlar²
5. Tahir Kansu Bozkurt¹

¹Gumussuyu Military Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
²Umraniye Education and Research Hospita, Istanbul, Turkey
³Gulhane Military Medicine Academy, Ankara, Turkey

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etiology of visual disturbances among young men at the age of recruitment according to the anatomical parts of the eye.

Methods: The study includes 2833 cases about whom the decision that "they were not convenient for military service" was given by Ankara Military Hospital at their admission to or during military service between June 1999 and December 2007. The records of the patients were examined retrospectively, and cases who were not convenient for military service were divided into four groups of anterior segment diseases, posterior segment diseases, disorders that damage the anatomical entirety and others.

Results:The most common ophthalmic diseases that prevent performing military service were anterior segment diseases (n=1674, %59,08), posterior segment diseases (n=632, %22.33), disorders that damage the anatomical entirety as phtysis bulbi, anophthalmia, enucleated/eviscerated eyes (n=341, %12.03) and the others (n=186, %6.56) in respect order. The ratio of trauma in etiology was detected as 28.27% (n=801). Anterior segment diseases were more common in ophthalmic diseases that prevent performing military service.

Conclusion: Most of the diseases detected were preventable diseases. Amblyopia caused by refractive errors and diseases caused by trauma were very common among young male adults in our country. Loss of working power in young people could be decreased to minimum by effective health care programs and educational studies.