Parental attitudes to myopia and behavior towards children visual care

Abstract

PURPOSE: To raise our knowledge of the significance of parental character in the occurrence of myopia and management.

METHOD: This is descriptive cross sectional study was conducted from October to December 2020 to evaluate the parental view point towards myopia and its progression. Parents of 8-15 years old children in urban areas participated in the study to reveal their viewpoints regarding myopia, their apprehension and their reviews on advance technology on eyes.

RESULTS: Sixty three percent parents opined that myopia is health- risk to their child, while 65.3% of parents regarded it optical inconvenience. Myopia was regarded an expense by 49% of parents, a cosmetic inconvenience by 68.8% of parents, a sign of intelligence by 32.3% of parents. 45.6% parents considered advance technology impact on myopia progression. 19.8% considered it genetic predisposition. Twelve percent considered impact of prolonged near work activities. 11.5% of parents considered wearing spectacles a factor for myopia development. Life style modifications were considered to be more effective rather than any therapeutical treatment. 42.7% parents limited their child screen time. 20.8% favoured outdoor activities. 15.6% reduced prolonged period of close work. 9.4% restricted studying or reading while 11.5% restricted wearing glasses.

CONCLUSION: The attitude of parents towards myopia was imperturbable in respect to health risk. Nearly, all the parents considered advance technology impact on the eye, so they did some modifications in the child’s life style habits. Parents preferred spectacles as a method to correct poor vision.

KEY WORDS: Myopia, Refractive error