Knowledge of the differences between Ophthalmologists and

Optometrists among Paramedical students and General
population of Chennai.

Principal Investigator: K. Rajasekhar Reddy (A3419014).

Guide: Mrs. B.M.S Deepa BS, M.Phil.

Department of Optometry
INTRODUCTION

Department of Optometry
 INTRODUCTION

•Industry estimates in India predict a requirement of over two Lakh institutionally-qualified Optometrists.

•One effective current model, developed by the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, for the efficient and
cost-effective delivery of eye care is a community eye care ‘team’. For every 10,000,00 people the team has:
•Ophthalmologists and Optometrists awareness studies were carried out in

Nigeria, Saudi, USA and other countries, but India there were no studies

regarding the awareness of differences between Ophthalmologists and Optometrists

Department of Optometry
 AIM & OBJECTIVES

AIM:
• To assess knowledge of the differences between Ophthalmologists and Optometrists among paramedical
students and general population of Chennai.

OBJECTIVES:
• To assess and understand the awareness of eye care professionals among paramedical students and general
population of Chennai.
• To compare the knowledge of paramedical students and general population of Chennai about the
professional differences between Ophthalmologists and Optometrists.

Department of Optometry
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

AUTHOR YEAR OF STUDY AGE GROUP METHODS OUTCOME

Boniface 2011 18 - 70 years The study was a 219 (55.6%) of the respondents reported
Ezek et al population-based awareness of the professional
random survey on 394 requirements of Ophthalmologists and
residents of Nigeria Optometrists

Mohammad 2018 18 - 60 years Quantitative study Fair knowledge (n=789) = 50%

Hamada carried out on 2000 Good knowledge (n=285) = 18%
Aldebasi et residents of Saudi Poor knowledge (n=505) = 32%
al

Department of Optometry
JFA Ocoee 2013 18 - 22 years Structured questionnaire was 282 (61.3%) of the participants were
et al administered on 460 students undergoing unaware that different cadre of eye care
tertiary education in Nigeria. workers exist; and the rest 35% were
sure of different eye care workers.

Header Z 2019 18 - >30 In this cross-sectional study, self- A considerable number of participants
et al years administered questionnaire was applied had weak knowledge about PEC and
to collect the data from 504 medical regular eye visits, only 13.3% knew
students at Mazandaran University. about PEC and ECPs.

Department of Optometry
 MATERIALS & METHODS

INCLUSION CRITERIA
SAMPLE SIZE
• Paramedical students
• Z1-α/2 = for 95% confidence Z value is 1.96
• Residents of Chennai
• P = Estimated prevalence (50%) =0.5
• Age: 18 - 60 years.
• d = Desired precision i.e., (5%) = 0.05
• Gender: Males and Females
• q = 1-p = 1 - 0.5 = 0.5
EXCLUSION CRITERIA • By substituting the values in formula the sample
• Optometry students & Practitioners size = 384.16 = 385. ( Z1-α/2 )2(p) (q)
• Medical students/Ophthalmologists
n=
• Age: 18 years or less
(d)2

Department of Optometry
 PROCEDURE

• This is a cross-sectional survey carried out in Chennai

• 16 close ended questions
METHODOLOGY
• Divided into 3 sections, Clinical profile, Knowledge
• Acknowledgement
questions, Knowledge statement
• IEC Approval
• Google forms/ E-mail
• Eligibility criteria CLINICAL PROFILE:
• Informed consent • Previous eye examination
• Past or present usage of spectacles
• Past or present usage of contact lenses

Department of Optometry
 STUDY DESIGN

• Knowledge scoring: correct answer = 1; wrong answer = 0;

• Average knowledge score: Was computed using the method described in the AGREE II INSTRUMENT as
[X/Y] × 100%; where, X= Obtained score - Minimum possible score,

Y=Maximum possible score - Minimum possible score;

• Grading of knowledge status: Good knowledge (>75%)

Fair knowledge (50 - 75%)

Poor knowledge (<50%).

Department of Optometry
 RESULTS

• There were (n=386) participants comprising of 193(50%) paramedical students and 193(50%) general
population. aged 18 - 60 years with a mean age of 28 ± 10 years.
• 100% response rate was reported and majority of the participants possessed minimum tertiary
education 342 (88.60%).

Department of Optometry
SECTION - A OPHTHALMOLOGIST OPTOMETRIST BOTH NEITHER NOT SURE

Which of them went to medical 115 (59.58%) 13 (6.7%) 40 (20.7%) 25 (12.9%) 0

school to become a doctor as part of 102 (52.84%) 21 (10.88%) 46 (23.83%) 24 0
their training? (12.43%)
Which of them tests your vision? 78 (40.4%) 35 (18.13%) 57 (29.53%) 2 (1.03%) 21 (10.88%)
74 (38.34%) 37 (19.17%) 59 (30.56%) 3 (1.55%) 19 (9.84%)
Which of them prescribes glasses? 43 (22.27%) 87 (45.07%) 31 (16.06%) 4 (2.07%) 28 (14.50%)
47 (24.35%) 83 (43.0%) 34 (17.61%) 3 (1.55%) 25 (12.95)
Which of them fits contact lenses? 33 (17.09%) 89 (46.11%) 18 (9.3%) 9 (4.66%) 44 (22.79%)
31 (16.06%) 91 (47.15%) 19 (9.32%) 8 (4.14%) 44 (22.79%)
Which of them grinds lenses? 18 (9.32%) 91 (47.15%) 16 (8.2%) 8 (4.14%) 60 (31.08%)
21 (10.88%) 89 (46.11%) 18 (9.32%) 9 (4.66%) 59 (30.56%)
Which of them performs cataract 148 (76.68%) 8 (4.14%) 10 (5.18%) 2 (1.03%) 25 (12.95%)
operations? 139 (72.02%) 11 (5.69%) 9 (4.66%) 3 (1.55%) 31 (16.06%)
Which of them uses lasers to treat 110 (56.99%) 19 (9.84%) 12 (6.21%) 11 (5.69%) 41 (21.24%)
eye diseases? 101 (52.33%) 23 (11.91%) 15 (7.77%) 12 (6.21%) 42 (21.76%)
Paramedical students General population
Department of Optometry
SECTION - B YES NO NOT SURE
An ophthalmologist is allowed to test the eyes for glaucoma. 151 (78.23%) 5 (5.29%) 37 (19.27%)
140 (72.53%) 11 (5.69%) 42 (21.76%)
An optometrist is allowed to test the eyes for glaucoma. 54 (29.97%) 89 (46.11%) 50 (25.90%)
61 (31.60%) 83 (43.0%) 49 (25.38%)
An ophthalmologist is allowed to treat glaucoma with medication. 153 (79.27%) 13 (6.73%) 27 (13.98%)
134 (69.43%) 17 (8.80%) 42 (21.76%)
An optometrist is allowed to treat glaucoma with medications. 53 (27.46%) 57 (29.53%) 83 (43.0%)
51 (30.56%) 53 (27.46%) 81 (41.96%)
An ophthalmologist is allowed to do special treatments such as 97 (50.20%) 28 (14.50%) 68 (35.23%)
Low vision aids & Vision therapy. 93 (48.18%) 31 (16.06%) 69 (35.75%)
An optometrist is allowed to do special treatments such as Low 63 (32.64%) 81 (41.96%) 49 (25.38%)
vision aids and Vision therapy. 66 (34.19%) 79 (40.93%) 48 (24.87%)

Paramedical students General population

Department of Optometry
 KNOWLEDGE SCORES

 Good knowledge: 10 - 13 (>75%)

 Fair knowledge: 7 - 9 (50 - 75%)
 Poor knowledge: 0 - 6 (<50%)

Knowledge Paramedical students General population

Good knowledge 37 (19.17%) 32 (16.58%)

Fair knowledge 103 (53.36%) 94 (48.70%)

Poor knowledge 53 (27.46%) 67 (34.17%)

Department of Optometry
 DISCUSSION

• Very less awareness was noted in "Which of them tests your vision", for Optometrists In paramedical
students(18.13%) and general population(19.17%), which is similar to Boniface et al (16.8%)
• Very less awareness was noted in "an optometrist is allowed to do special treatments such as Low vision
aids and Vision therapy in paramedical students(32.64%) and general population(34.19%)
• Nearly half of the population were aware of Optometrists In prescribing glasses(45.07%) (43.0%), fitting
contact lenses(46.11%) (47.15%), and grinding lenses(47.15%) (46.11%)
• Majority of the participants were aware of the responsibilities of Ophthalmologists in performing cataract
surgery (76.68%) (72.02%), testing for glaucoma (78.23%) (72.53%), treating glaucoma with medication
(79.27%) (69.43%).
Paramedical students General population
Department of Optometry
• The observed differences and similarities are attributed to differences in methods of knowledge
assessment and also the time interval between the surveys.
• Higher educational qualification and clinical profile of participants is one of the reasons for the higher
knowledge scores achieved in this study.
• This study VS Previous study

Paramedical students General population

Department of Optometry
 CONCLUSION

• In this study we have found that paramedical students had fair knowledge(53.36%) when compared
to general population(48.70%).
• Awareness programs need to be conducted by government and eye care practitioners for higher
proportion of knowledge enhancement in public regarding the responsibilities Ophthalmologists and
Optometrists.

Department of Optometry
 REFERENCES

1. Guffey R, Juzych N, Juzych M. Patient knowledge of physician responsibilities and their preferences for care in
ophthalmology teaching clinics. Ophthalmology. 2009 Sep 1; 116(9):1610-4.

2. B. I. Ezek, O. Okayed, and E. N. Aduwa, “Public‟s knowledge of the differences between ophthalmologists and
optometrists: a critical issue in eye care service utilization,” International journal of ophthalmology, vol. 9, no. 9, pp. 1336–
1342, 2016.

3. Aldebasi MH, Alsobaie NA, Allayed AY, Alwusaidi KM, Alasbali T. Public awareness regarding the differences between
ophthalmologists and optometrists among Saudi adults living in Riyadh: A quantitative study. Journal of ophthalmology.
2018 Sep 30; 2018.

4. Ocoee JF, Ademola–Popoola DS, Adenoma BJ, Blowgun BG, Olatunji VA. A study of the level of awareness of different
cadre of eye care providers among tertiary institution students in Nigeria. Annals of Biomedical Sciences. 2013 Apr 20;
12(1).

Department of Optometry