Ebeigbe J A, Kio F, Okafor L I
Department of Optometry, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin, Edo State 300001 Nigeria.
Ghana Med J. 2013 Jun;47(2):70-3.
Uncorrected refractive error is a common cause of preventable visual impairment. Glasses are the cheapest and commonest form of correction of refractive errors. To achieve this, patients must exhibit good compliance to spectacle wear. Patients' attitude and perception of glasses and eye health could affect compliance to spectacle wear.
To determine the attitude and beliefs of Nigerian undergraduates to spectacle wear.
A cross sectional study of 500 undergraduates of the University of Benin, Nigeria. Age range was from 18 to 30 years, mean age 23 ± 2.7 years. There were 269 males and 231 females. Semi structured questionnaires were distributed to the participants and collected same day after completion.
Two-thirds (68%) of the total population studied had not heard of refractive error. About a third (38%) believed wearing eyeglasses was one of the methods used to correct refractive error. Half (50%) believed they would wear spectacles if prescribed with one by their doctor. Sixty-four percent believed eyeglasses are harmful to the eyes; and 65% did not know that eyeglasses could be used to relieve other forms of ocular discomfort like headache and tearing. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents saw people who wore eyeglasses as visually handicapped, while 60% believed that eyeglasses were meant for old people. Majority of the respondents (56%) believed that they would be teased if they wore glasses.
Knowledge of refractive errors and acceptance of glasses for the correction of refractive errors among Nigerian undergraduates is not encouraging. Public enlightenment programs to promote benefits of wearing prescribed spectacles are needed.
未矫正的屈光不正 是可预防视力损害的常见原因。眼镜是矫正屈光不正最便宜且最常见的方式。要实现这一点，患者必须对佩戴眼镜表现出良好的依从性。患者对眼镜和眼部健康的态度及认知可能会影响其佩戴眼镜的依从性。
确定尼日利亚大学生对佩戴眼镜的态度和看法。
对尼日利亚贝宁大学的500名大学生进行横断面研究。年龄范围为18至30岁，平均年龄23±2.7岁。其中男性269名，女性231名。向参与者发放半结构化问卷，并在完成后当天收回。
在所有研究对象中，三分之二（68%）的人从未听说过屈光不正。约三分之一（38%）的人认为佩戴眼镜是矫正屈光不正的方法之一。一半（50%）的人认为如果医生开了眼镜处方，他们会佩戴。64%的人认为眼镜对眼睛有害；65%的人不知道眼镜可用于缓解其他形式的眼部不适，如头痛和流泪。57%的受访者认为戴眼镜的人有视力障碍，而60%的人认为眼镜是给老年人戴的。大多数受访者（56%）认为如果他们戴眼镜会被人取笑。
尼日利亚大学生对屈光不正的认知以及对佩戴眼镜矫正屈光不正的接受程度不容乐观。需要开展公众宣传项目，以推广佩戴处方眼镜的益处。
