Awareness and perception regarding eye donation among under graduate medical College Student in South Western Bihar

Abstract

Introduction : The statistics on eye donation in India shows that there is a considerable and constantly growing backlog of corneal transplantation. A large proportion of corneal blindness is curable. Well informed medical students could be expected to influence the eye donation rates. One of the obstacles in eye donation is lack of awareness and a negative attitude among general population. The willingness about eye donation among medical fraternity definitely will affect the attitude among general population. Aim and Objectives: The study aims to assess the awareness and perception of the undergraduate medical students regarding eye donation. Methodology : The present cross sectional study was carried out in the Narayan medical college , Sasaram, Bihar, among the medical students. A pre tested, self administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the background information, awareness and perception regarding eye donation. Self-administered questionnaire included: Socio-demographic data (age, gender, medical specialty, and name of university), characteristics of the eye donation, knowledge of eye donation, and corneal transplantation. Results : 61.9% students were willing to promote eye donation in society in future but they lack some basic knowledge on this issue. 68.32% did not know that eye donation is possible only after death. 47.28% did not know that eye donation can still be carried out even If deceased person had not pledged for eye donation. 45.66% and 61.2% students responded that cataract and optic atrophy respectively are contraindication for eye donation. Conclusion: Medical students are enthusiastic to promote noble cause of eye donation but they lack some basic knowledge on this issue. Specific efforts are needed to fill these lacunae in their knowledge. This will help us in long term for sensitization of people in society on eye donation