STUDY OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF REFRACTIVE ERROR WITH EMPHASIS ON SPECTACLE USAGES IN STUDENTS OF RURAL CENTRAL INDIA.

*Rahul Agarwal1, Parag Dhoble2

*Rahul Agarwal1, Parag Dhoble2 1Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology. L.N.M.C & R.C. Bhopal, M.P., India. 2Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, R.D Gardi Medical College Ujjain, M.P., India.

Abstract

Aim: To Study the knowledge, attitude and practices of refractive errors with emphasis on spectacle usages in students of rural central India.

Background: Refractive error is the most common cause of blindness which can be corrected easily by using simple modality like spectacles but because of ignorance, stigmas and cost related issues it is underutilized. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of refractive errors with the emphasis on spectacle usages amongst students of rural central India.

Material and method: This was a prospective cross sectional study conducted amongst high school going students of rural central India.

Result: Amongst 255 respondents, 165 males and 90 females. Most of the respondents believed that most common reasons for low vision were nutritional deficiency(68%) followed by bad eye care(56%), hereditary(47%) and trauma to eyes(18%).Most of the participants were aware about spectacles (92%) as a modality to correct low vision. Very few knew about surgery (14%) and contact lenses (54%).The respondents refused to use spectacles at all if needed because of likely teasing from colleagues as well as problem with handling of glass (71%), fear of rejection from opposite sex (65%) and for fear of being labeled as blind (48%).

Conclusion: Stigmas regarding refractive errors and modalities to correct it is prevalent amongst high school students of rural central India.

KEY WORDS: Refractive error, stigma, Knowledge, attitude, practice.