Author/Editor		Prelesnik, Uroš
Title		Katarakta pri steklopihalcih
Translated title		Cataract at glassblowers
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vars
Vol. and No.		Letnik 43, št. 2
Publication year		2004
Volume		str. 117-21
Language		slo
Abstract		Background. High rates of cataract have been recorded among glass workers exposed to high temperatures of glass fumaces, and among glassblowers. Views on exposure risks vary widely. The study included 47 glass workers employed in the Hrastnik Glass Factory as glassblowers for at least 20 years. The analysis was supported by the factory management who wanted to know whetherglassblowers were at increased risk for ocular diseases. Methods. From January to July 2002, 47 glassblowers were examined. The results were compared with observations for the control group, i. e. 150 age-matched patients who attended the outpatient clinic at the same time. The subjects were evaluated by a slit lamp examination, examination of visual acuity, with and without correction, by intraocular pressure measurement, eye fundus examination and determination of the visual field. In addition, the subjects' handedness was assessed. Results. The results showed that cataract and deficits of the visual field occurred more frequently in glassblowers than in the control group. There were no differences between the groups conceming the measured intraocular pressure. Conclusion. The results confirmed our assumption that glassblowers are at a higher risk of developing cataract than the general population. Individuals exposed to IR-irradiation were found to develop cataractous changes earlier and at a higher rate. Hypothetically, visual field deficits can also be induced by IR-irradiation.
Summary		Izhodišča. Pri delavcih v steklarski industriji, ki delajo pri odprtih pečeh, ter pri steklopihalcih se v precejšnjem odstotku pojavlja katarakta. Mnenja o izpostavljenosti so zelo različna. Zato smo v naši ambulanti pregledali 47 steklopihalcev, zaposlenih v Steklami Hrastnik, ki so imeli 20 let ali več delovne dobe pri tem delu. Analiza je bila narejena v sodelovanju z vodstvom podjetja, ki jih je zanimalo, ali pri steklopihalcih obstaja večje tveganje za nastanek očesnih bolezni. Metode. V obdobju od januarja do junija leta 2002 smo v naši ambulanti pregledali skupino steklopihalcev ter rezultate njihovih preiskav primerjali s kontrolno populacijo. Kontrolna populacija so bili prvih 150 oseb podobne starosti kot analizirana skupina, ki so prišli v našo ambulanto v omenjenem obdobju. Pri pregledu smo jim naredili očesni pregled, ki je vseboval: vidno ostrino bre2 korekcije in z njo, pregled na špranjski svetilki, meritev očesnega tlaka, pregled očesnega ozadja ter pregled vidnega polja. Ugotavljali smo tudi, ali so levičarji ali desničarji. Rezultati. V naši raziskavi smo ugotovili pogostejše pojavljanje katarakte in izpade v vidnem polju pri steklopihalcih v primerjavi s kontrolno skupino. Pri analiziranju očesnega pritiska nismo opazili razlik med obema preiskovanima skupinama. Zaključek. Z raziskavo smo potrdili domnevo, da je za nastanek katarakte delo steklopihalca bolj tvegano od ostale populacije. Zaradi infrardečega sevanja pride do sprememb v leči hitreje in v večjem številu. Zožitve vidnega polja bi hipotetično bile lahko prav tako posledica sevanja.
Descriptors		OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE GLASS CATARACT VISUAL FIELDS INFRARED RAYS