Abstract
Background: Optometrists with different levels of optometric education in India provide eye care services under various capacities to the public.Aim: The study evaluated the status of optometrists in terms of their knowledge, skills and frequency of skill utilisation in public and private sectors.Setting: A quantitative study design was adopted using a survey questionnaire that was distributed to optometrists providing eye care services in public and private sectors.Methods: A structured and validated questionnaire with closed-ended questions was administered to 650 participants.Results: A total of 400 completed questionnaires were received (response rate = 62%) of which 207 respondents were males (52%) and 193 females (48%). Most (57%) of the respondents were bachelor’s degree holders with 86% of the respondents in the private sector and 14% in the public sector. The knowledge level of ancillary and diagnostic tests (69%) was the least amongst public sector optometrists whilst it was binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (66%) for private sector optometrists. The skill levels in indirect ophthalmoscopy was least amongst the public sector (56%) and private sector (44%) optometrists. Indirect ophthalmoscopy showed the least frequency of skill utilisation amongst public sector (13%) and private sector (34%) optometrists.Conclusion: The study highlighted the need for mandating best practice standards, and expanding the scope of defined practice, as optometrists are better suited for diagnostic roles and comprehensive eye examinations, and can contribute effectively towards averting preventable blindness.
Highlights
In India, optometry has made tremendous progress in terms of education and service delivery since the establishment of the first school of optometry in 1958
This study evaluated the status of optometrists in terms of their knowledge and skill levels, and frequency of optometric skill utilisation in private and public sectors
The study revealed that the knowledge levels of optometrists was high in almost all the skills listed in the questionnaire, with the least being in indirect ophthalmoscopy, ancillary and diagnostic tests, and DO
Summary
In India, optometry has made tremendous progress in terms of education and service delivery since the establishment of the first school of optometry in 1958. India with a population of 1.3 billion has 9000 optometrists who have undergone four years of degree level education in optometry and 40 000 ophthalmic technicians/assistants who have undergone two years of diploma education in ophthalmic training.[5] Almost all developed countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada) with optometry as a recognised profession have restrictions on who may provide eye examinations and who may prescribe and dispense optical appliances.[6] In India there are no such restrictions as there is no regulatory body governing either the dispensing of optical appliances or optometric eye care. In India, optometry education is offered at diploma (2 years) or degree (4 years) levels. Lack of standardisation of programmes, disparate entry and exit competencies, poorly defined career paths and unequal scope of practice for optometrists and Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOP) are major causes for concern in India and other countries where the profession is unregulated.[7,8,9] Because http://www.avehjournal.org. Optometrists with different levels of optometric education in India provide eye care services under various capacities to the public
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