AWARENESS OF EYE HEALTH CARE (A TALE OF TWO CITIES OF PUNJAB)

  • Noor ul Ain malik
  • Eman Ayesha
  • Wardah Kafeel
  • Tayyaba Gul Malik
Keywords: Cataract, Glaucoma, Pakistan, Safety glasses.

Abstract

Purpose: To find out eye health care awareness among different age and educational groups in urban population of Lahore and Faisalabad.

Study Design: Descriptive observational study.

Study place and Study period: Faisalabad Medical University and Ameer ud Din Medical College during 2019

Sample collection: Non-probability convenience sampling

Methods:

Six hundred and seventy nine persons of both genders were enrolled from Lahore and Faisalabad. A questionnaire was prepared and presented to recruited individuals. The questionnaire included general knowledge about eye health care and common ocular diseases. Name, age, gender and educational status were included in the questionnaire along with the specific questions related with ocular health. Data was analyzed by dividing the participants into two groups (A and B) according to age and then into three groups (C, D, E) according to educational status.  

Results:

There were 679 individuals, 536 between 15 and 25 years of age and 143 were 26 years and above. There were 194 males and 485 females. 24% were undergraduates, 56% were graduates and 20 % had done post-graduation.

Most of the participants had correct knowledge regarding cataract but not about glaucoma and ocular complications of diabetes. Cataract and red eye were the commonest eye diseases according to majority of the individuals. Majority of the individuals recommended use of sunglasses as the best protective measure against eye diseases.    

 

Conclusion:

Our urban population in two major cities of Punjab lacks eye health care awareness and the condition is only slightly better in the graduates and post-graduates as compared to the undergraduates.

Published
2022-09-05