Objective To survey the prevalence of cataract induced by trinitrotoluene(TNT), describe the clinical characteristics of TNT cataract, assess the relationship of its occurrence with job title and length service, and also record lens photography at the same time.
Methods TNT-exposed workers(n=452) in a factory were invited to a regular external eye examination. Followed by applying the compound tropicamide drops three times till pupils dilating to 7-8 mm, lens were observed and photographed with a slit lamp microscope. Diagnosis and classification of cataract were followed the Diagnostic criteria of occupational trinitrotoluene cataract(GBZ 45-2010).
Results Among the 452 workers investigated, 185 cases required clinic observation and 132 cases were diagnosed with TNT cataract, including 97 cases at stage I, 27 cases at stage II, and 8 cases at stage III, with a total prevalence rate of 29.20%. The positive rate of lens opacity was 70.13%(317/452). With the length of service grew, the prevalence rate of TNT cataract also increased. Specifically, the highest prevalence rate was found in the group with greater than 25 years of length of service and in the mixing task group. There were differences by length of service(χ2=80.60, P< 0.01). No statistical difference was found by gender.
Conclusion The prevalence of TNT cataract is closely related to job titles and rises with the increasing of length of service and the duration of TNT exposure in the selected factory. Lens photographs provide important evidence to accurately diagnose TNT cataract.
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