Assessment of awareness and psychosocial impact of strabismus in rural India

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the awareness and psychosocial impact of strabismus in rural India Materials and Methods: A prospective observational case study was conducted in the ophthalmology unit of father Muller charitable institutions and in peripheral eye camps conducted by the institution on all squint patients during the study period . All the patients were interviewed by one investigator with an 8 point quality of life questionnaire and results were analysed . Results: A total of 40 patients were included in the study . Majority (90%) of the subjects were aware of their squint. However, only about 37.5% of the subjects were aware that apart from being a cosmetic issue, squint can also cause problems in vision. Squint was a concern always for 62.5% of the participants. And around half of them (52.5%) had been mocked for their squint either sometimes or always. Squint was sometimes or always a hindrance to routine activities or assuming leadership roles in 34.5% study participants. Over 60% of them had not sought medical help for their squint. The most common cause for not considering surgery for squint included not being advised the same (35%), followed by not having access to healthcare (22.5%), and having no family support (17.5%). Conclusions: The awareness about visual implications were low in the study population and a negative psychosocial impact was observed among the patients in the study.