AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARD REFRACTIVE ERROR CORRECTION MODALITIES IN PARAMEDICAL STUDENTS

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the level of awareness and attitude toward refractive correction methods in a randomly selected population of Paramedical students in Era University, Lucknow, India. Materials and Methods: A random sampling method was applied to choose 500 subjects aged 17 years-28 years, from various paramedical courses. A structured questionnaire with open-ended and closed ended questions was designed to gather the participants' demographic data as well as their awareness and attitude toward refractive correction methods (Spectacles, Contact lenses and Refractive surgery). Results: Overall, 26.2% of the participants had a clear idea of term 'ophthalmologist' and 'optometrist'. 71.4%, 58.8% and 71% of respondents had no information about contact lens application, cosmetic contact lenses and contact lenses side effects, respectively. 68.6% of participants were not aware of the possibility of refractive surgery for improving the sight. Amongest those aware of refractive suregry; was only 14.2%. Conclusion: Developing country like India with a huge population also has large population with refractive errors putting a burden on overall health care. Awareness and attitude towards refractive correction methods was moderately low among the participants of this study. Although, ophthalmologists were the first source of consultation on sight impairments among respondents, one third percentage of subjects were not even aware of obvious differences between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist.