, , MISKHAT IRAM, HAFIZA HAFSA MEHWISH, ABDUL MALIK, AHMAD KAMAL KHAN

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the awareness and knowledge about cataract, its risk factors and treatment modalities in rural population of Punjab, Study design: Cross-sectional study Place and duration of study: This study was carried out in the rural areas of district Sahiwal Punjab from March 2017 to June 2017. Methods: A total of 500 participants were enrolled through a non-probability, convenient sampling method. Community members of age 20 years to 70 years were interviewed by Lady Health Workers during their routine visits in community after written informed consent through a pre-designed, pretested questionnaire. The obtained data was then analyzed using SPSS. Results showed that 82.2% had heard about cataract but only 44.8% knew that it is the opacity of lens. 51.8% thought that blindness caused by cataract cannot be cured. Knowledge about risk factors was not very good. 57% population knew that surgery is the effective treatment for cataract and 75% had heard about intraocular lens however 62.8% population was not aware of the availability of free surgical facility in government hospitals. Conclusion: Our study showed that about half of population had good knowledge about cataract and its risk factors, but majority did not know about presence of free surgery in government hospitals.