Ocular findings in coal miners diagnosed with pneumoconiosis

Abstract

AbstractObjective: Our study aimed at evaluating ocular findings and structural changes in coal mine workers who were chronically exposed to coal mine dust and diagnosed with pneumoconiosis.Methods: Ocular findings of 161 eyes of 81 patients diagnosed with pneumoconiosis who had previously worked or are currently working in coal mines were analyzed. Forty-six coal mine workers and sex matched healthy people (n = 20) participated in the study. Workers who had early changes of pneumoconiosis were included in Group 1 (n = 17), workers diagnosed with pneumoconiosis were included in Group 2 (n = 29), and healthy subjects were included in Group 3 (n = 20). Outcome measures were the difference in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), central macular thickness (CMT) and tear function tests between the groups.Results: RNFL thickness values in Group 1 and 2 were lower than in Group 3, the control group, in all quadrants except the temporal quadrant. However, there was n...