Eye-related symptoms were prominent at the time of
and soon after the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster in
Bhopal, India. We conducted a vision screening on the
survivors to examine their current ocular status.
Fifty-nine patients enrolled. We analysed the results
from 48 patients (mean age 51  12 years) who had a
documented history of gas exposure. The commonly
reported symptoms were vision difficulties (n = 30),
watering (n = 21) and headaches (n = 16). Thirty
patients needed spectacles, 30 had cataracts and 17
had pinguecula. We found the prevalence of pinguecula to be significantly higher in this cohort. The
need for vision care among this underserved population is highlighted.