Spectacle uptake among secondary school students with visually-significant refractive error in rural China: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study (X-PRES) report #5

¹ Epidemiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
² JSIEC, Shantou, China
³ Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, CUHK School of Public Health, Shatin, Hong Kong
⁴ DOVS, CUHK, Kowloon, Hong Kong
⁵ DOVS, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
⁶ DOVS, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 30-32 Ngan Shing St, Block B, 7th Floor, Shatin, Hong Kong

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ncongdon{at}cuhk.edu.hk.

	Abstract

Purpose: To assess determinants of spectacle uptake among rural Chinese children. Methods: Children with uncorrected acuity <= 6/12 in either eye and whose presenting vision could be improved >= 2 lines with refraction were identified from a school-based sample of 1892 students. Information on obtaining glasses and the benefits of spectacles was provided to children, families and teachers. Purchase of new spectacles and reasons for non-purchase were assessed by direct inspection and interview three months later. Results: Among 674 (35.6%) children requiring spectacles (mean age 14.7 +/- 0.8 years), 597 (88.6%) were followed up. Among 339 children with no glasses at baseline, 30.7% purchased spectacles, while 43.2% of 258 children with inaccurate glasses replaced them. Most (70%) subjects paid US$13-26. Among children with bilateral vision <= 6/18, 45.6% bought glasses. In multivariate models, presenting vision < 6/12 (P < 0.009), refractive error < -2.0 D (P < 0.001), and amount willing to pay for glasses (P = 0.01) were predictors of purchase. Reasons for non-purchase included: satisfaction with current vision (78% with glasses at baseline, 49% among those without), concerns over price or parental refusal (18%) and fear glasses would weaken the eyes (13%). Only 26% of children stated they usually wore their new glasses. Conclusions: Many families in rural China will pay for glasses, though spectacle uptake was < 50% even among children with poor vision. Uptake could be improved by price reduction, education that glasses will not harm the eyes and parent-focused interventions.

Key Words: myopia, epidemiology, refractive error

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Congdon, M. Zheng, A. Sharma, K. Choi, Y. Song, M. Zhang, M. Wang, Z. Zhou, L. Li, X. Liu, et al. Prevalence and Determinants of Spectacle Nonwear Among Rural Chinese Secondary Schoolchildren: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study Report 3 Arch Ophthalmol, December 1, 2008; 126(12): 1717 - 1723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]