PREVALENCE OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS AND USE OF PRESCRIPTION SPECTACLES AMONG PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN ABEOKUTA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Uncorrected Refractive Errors (REs) constitute an important cause of poor vision globally. In Nigeria, the prevalence of REs and use of prescription spectacles to ameliorate the attendant problems have not been fully explored among secondary school teachers. This study was therefore aimed at determining the prevalence of REs and use of prescription spectacles among public secondary school teachers in Abeokuta South Local Government Area (LGA), Ogun state. A descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted and a five-stage random sampling technique was used to select 500 teachers. Data were collected using a semi-structured demographic characteristics, family history, prescription spectacle use and perception of prescription spectacles. Knowledge scores ranged from 0-40, 41-55 and 56-100 rated as poor, fair and good respectively. Eye examination was conducted on 282 (179 females and 103 males) out of the 500 teachers who consented to be screened using a combination of standardized Snellen's charts, ophthalmoscopes, retinoscopes, penlighte and trial lenses. Data were analysed using descriptive, student t-test, chi-square and Pearson's correlation statistics at 5% significant level. The mean age of the respondents was 38.9±95.5% were Yorubas and 63.2% were females. Nearly all (99.8%) had heard of prescription spectacles. Respondents' mean knowledge score was 31.7±13.1 and the mean scores for males and females were 32.4±13.0 and 31.3±13.3 respectively with no significant difference. Of the respondents screened, 95.5% had REs in form of hyperopia (6.4%), presbyopia (5.3%), myopia (1.4%), astigmatism (1.1%) and a combination of REs (81.2%). There was a positive linear relationship between age and the degree of presbyopia (r²=0.90). Of the respondents with REs, 74.3% had close family members who used prescription spectacles. About half (56.1%) of the respondents with REs had no spectacles; of this 53.6% had never visited an eye care specialist and 61.5% would prefer other 'treatment' options to the wearing of spectacles. The perceived barriers to the use of prescription spectacles included lack of knowledge of the health condition of their eyes (53.6%), inadequate access to an eye doctor (68.2%) and the perception that spectacles adversely affects one's beauty (58.4%). The leading misconceptions about spectacles among the respondents were that regular use could lead to sunken eyes (60.2%) and dependence (53.4%). The prevalence of refractive error was high among the teachers yet few of them use prescription spectacles. Misconceptions that could serve as barriers to the adoption of the use of prescription spectacles exist. School-based eye health education programmes are needed to address these challenges.