Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ocular health status and ophthalmic safety practices among industrial metal workers of Moradabad, pre- and post-intervention. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted from November 2022 to December 2023. Metal workers, recruited from an industrial zone of Moradabad, underwent eye examination and were administered a pre-validated questionnaire on ocular health and safety, translated in Hindi. A multifaceted intervention included detailed ophthalmic evaluation, correction of refractive error, and presbyopia followed by provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). Thereafter, an awareness program was conducted using leaflets, followed by monthly monitoring group meetings. All workers were followed up for one year. RESULTS: Four hundred metal workers aged between 14 and 65 years, predominantly from unorganized sector (70%), were evaluated. While a notable percentage of the metal workers (18.50%) reported ocular injuries in last 5 years, only 11.25% wore PPE and 4.3% of the participants attended prior ophthalmic safety training at baseline evaluation. Majority of the participants reported uncorrected presbyopia and/or refractive error. All participants completed 3 stages of intervention. A total of 297 spectacles were provided. After the intervention and 1 year of monitoring, safety attitudes of the workers improved significantly (P < 0.05). There were no cases of eye injuries reported during 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Present research revealed eye injuries to be a significant public health concern among metal workers of Moradabad, further highlighting the minimal use of PPE. However, continuous education, increased supervision, and mandatory safety measures improved worker attitudes and reduced work-related eye injuries in this occupational group.