The application of visual contrast sensitivity and OCT in physical examination of welder

Abstract

Objective To investigate the application of visual contrast sensitivity (CS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in physical examination of welder. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Eighty-six welding workers who had medical checks in May 2014 in our hospital were the research objects(welder group), and 62 other type workers were the control group. Besides the general medical system examinations, eye examinations had been performed on the crowd including subjective symptoms, visual acuity, ophthalmoscopy, OCT and CS.The eye examination results in two groups were compared by chi-square analysis. The consistency in the results of readme symptoms with the results of visual acuity, ophthalmoscopy, OCT and CS were analysed by Kappa test, and the correlation between the results of OCT and CS were analysed by rank correlation test. Results In welder group, the abnormal rates of the examinations in readme symptoms, vision, ophthalmoscope, CS (6c/d) and OCT were 25.6%, 5.8%, 2.3%, 30.2% and 22.1%. Compared with the results in control group, the differences in the results of symptoms, CS(6c/d) and OCT were statistically significant (χ2=7.412, P=0.007), (χ2=8.982, P=0.003), (χ2=10.533, P=0.001). In welder group, the results of OCT and CS (6c/d) were highly consistent with the results of subjective symptoms(PO=0.919, K=0.776), (PO=0.905, K=0.767). Positive correlation was found out between the results of OCT and the results of CS (6c/d)(C=0.753、χ2=97.577, P=0.000). Conclusion Obvious retinal light damage exists in part welders. CS and OCT examination can accurately find out this damage respectively from the function and anatomy which are applied to eye examinations in welders. The damage of anatomy may be the cause for the change of the function. Key words: Maculopathy, phototoxic; Welding arc; Optical coherence tomography; Contrast sensitivity; Kappa test