Evaluation of Color Vision in Oil Products and Petrochemical Employees

Color vision is one of the most important and influential visual abilities. Due to technological advances and conveying information to the device, its importance will increase day by day. Some jobs such as, working in factories and industrial workshops, are more accurate and professional. For many industrial areas of commands, messages, alerts and also displays digital devices represent by different colors. The present study determines the effects of prolonged exposure to petroleum products and petrochemicals on the color vision.
The present study is conducted in the manufacturing of petroleum products and petrochemicals, over 418 male employees (age over 40 years of age), in the industrial and office sectors. They were divided into two groups: The exposed groups of 224 patients (54%) and the non-exposed groups of 194 patients (46%). The exclusion criteria contains individuals with congenital vision disorders, eye diseases (e.g. cataracts, glaucoma), corneal opacity, corneal dystrophy, internal diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, nervous disorders (Parkinsons, Alzheimers), neurotoxin drugs consumer, monocular visual acuity less than 6/10 with best correction of refractive errors. First, a preliminary optometric examination involves determining visual acuity and refractive correction, if necessary, and then the color vision test was performed. The color vision testing, including Ishihara color vision 38 plates and LD-15 d.
Impairment of color vision was observed in 19% of people employed in the industrial sector (group with exposure to chemicals) and 6% of people working in the office (without exposure to chemical substances). The average color confusion index in the group with exposure to chemical was 1.12±0.16 and in the group without exposure to chemical was 1.03±0.07, which the difference was statistically significant.
The differences between groups in the color vision defects can be acquired the color vision disturbances, in individuals with exposure to petroleum and petrochemical than those without exposure confirms that exposure to chemicals, such as petrochemical products and petroleum products.