ARE PEOPLE AWARE ABOUT THE EYE DONATION? A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY CONDUCTED AMONG PEOPLE ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN WESTERN INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Corneal donation is one of important modalities to reduce bilateral blindness in India. Awareness about the eye donation plays important role in eye donation. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness about eye donation among people attending ophthalmology OPD in a tertiary hospital of western India.

Methodology: Across sectional study was conducted among people attending OPD of ophthalmology department in a tertiary care hospital. The data were collected using predesigned structured questionnaire which include demographic data, age, sex, marital status, educational status, awareness about eye donation, source of awareness willingness to donate eyes, etc.

Results: Among the 105 participants, 35.2% were aged 31 to 45 year and 58.1% were male. Among the 105 participants, 74.3% were aware about eye donation and 51 were willing to donate eye. Among those who were aware, audio-visual media like TV and Radio were the commonest source of awareness about eye donation.

Conclusion: There is a immense need to increase awareness about eye donation in the society. Multi prong strategies are needed to improve knowledge and awareness about the eye donation in the society.