Association of literacy level with the perceived amount of discomfort caused by erroneous interpupillary distance dispensed by opticians.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of literacy level with the visual discomfort caused by erroneous interpupillary distance (IPD) dispensed by an optician.

METHOD: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among people having symptoms of visual discomfort caused by erroneous IPD of the spectacles. A total of 66 patients having symptoms of discomfort within 1 week to 6 months following glasses’ prescription presenting to Mayo hospital Lahore were examined. Interpupillary distance of patient and that of the spectacles were measured by a millimeter PD ruler and Auto-refractometer. Spectacles refractive power was confirmed by Focimeter. Those with accurate spectacle power but wrong centration were included among faulty spectacles. Literacy level of the patient was noted, compared and results were analyzed.

RESULTS: A significant relationship between the symptoms associated with the wrong dispensed interpupillary distance and the literacy level of the patient (p<0.001, Chi-square test) was present. Patients complaining of visual discomfort having higher literacy level were greater as compared to that with lower level of literacy. Out of 66 patients with spectacles of erroneously dispensed IPD, 97% patients had higher literacy level ranging Matriculation to graduate level while only 3% were illiterate.

CONCLUSION: Important dispensing parameters like IPD were commonly ignored by eye care practitioners. Proper optical dispensing with associated patient education is necessary to achieve optimal optical benefits of spectacles and careful attention should be given to this aspect by practitioners.