Comparative Analysis of the Anterior Ocular Health Conditions of Selected Traditional Jeepney Drivers in the City and Province

Abstract

Background: Traditional jeepneys are designed with open windows and, in some cases, without a driver's side door, leaving drivers exposed to prolonged sunlight and harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays. This continuous exposure raises concerns about its potential effects on the anterior ocular health conditions. Objective: This study aimed to compare the anterior ocular health conditions of traditional jeepney drivers in the city and province. Methods: The study utilized slit-lamp biomicroscopy to assess the anterior ocular health, particularly the eyelids and eyelashes, meibomian gland, puncta, bulbar conjunctiva, palpebral conjunctiva, cornea, and crystalline lens. A comparative research method was employed. The qualified drivers from the city of Manila (route Cubao-Divisoria) were thirty-one (31) traditional jeepney drivers and thirty-four (34) from the province of Batangas (route Lipa City-Mataas na Kahoy). Results: Majority of the drivers have worked for more than 10 years for both groups, but particularly those in the city are aged 55 with an average of 9 working hours and those in the province are 52 years old working for 6 hours per day. Based on the results from the statistical treatment utilizing Mann-Whitney T-test, the summary of the significance revealed that out of the twelve (12) anterior parts of the eye examined, only four (4) were said to have significant difference. Results show that there is no significant difference between the anterior ocular health conditions of traditional jeepney drivers in the city and province. Conclusion: While both groups exhibited signs of UV-related ocular damage, the absence of significant differences between city and provincial drivers suggests that prolonged sun exposure poses similar risks regardless of geographic location. This highlights the need for protective measures, such as UV-protective eyewear, and regular eye examinations for all jeepney drivers.