Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 67-74
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20210910
Challenges Faced by Patients with Low Vision during COVID-19
Mantasha Dilkash1, Susmita Banerjee2, Gaurav Dubey3*, Vibha Kumari4, Ragni Kumari5, Mahesh Chandra6, Himanshu Tripathi7, Yasmeen Shahid8
1PG, Master of Optometry Dr D. Y. Patil Institute of Optometry and Visual Sciences, Pune
2Assistant Professor Dr D.Y.Patil Institute of Optometry and Visual Sciences Pune.
3Faculty, Department of Optometry, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai Etawah.
4Assistant Professor Department of Paramedical Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
5PhD Scholar Amity Institute of Public Health, Amity University, Noida.
6Sr. Optometrist, Department of Ophthalmology, Dr Sushila Tewari Hospital and Govt. Medical College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand
7Principal, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
8PG, Master of Optometry, Department of Optometry, TMU Moradabad.
Corresponding Author: Mr. Gaurav Dubey; Email Id-gauravopto25@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Low vision patients have difficulties maintaining and keeping social distancing guidelines in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study examines COVID-19 and social distancing: Challenges faced by patients with low vision. The study objective is to identify the contribution of Covid-19 to the challenges faced by patients with low vision who visited the hospital. 35 low vision patients participated in the study.
Method: A self-administrated, cross-sectional survey in English was distributed using Google forms through various professional bodies across patients with low vision visiting the hospital. The questionnaire was also presented to the patients via telephonic conversation. The study objective is to identify the contribution of Covid-19 to the challenges faced by patients with low vision visited to the hospital and examine how social distancing measure has increased the challenges faced by patients with low vision. The questionnaire will contain closed-ended questions.
Result: Questionnaires were distributed to patients with low vision attending the hospital 35 responses were obtained through the questionnaire. Among the participants, 22 were males, and 19 were females. Patients who participated in the study were between 10 to 70 years of age. Social distancing increases the challenges faced by people with low vision. People with low vision had restrictive movement due to problems in maintaining social distancing and travelling outside. Challenges for low vision people depend upon the level of their sight loss; blind people rely on canes and a human guide. An individual with low vision can use their visual clues by identifying the shape and size of the object and their other senses to identify the object.
Conclusion: Coronavirus pandemic is a worldwide challenge that has spread across all sectors, including human. It applies to all industries. In no doubt, COVID-19 contributes to the faced by patients with low vision and the social distancing measures, which is one of the best ways of reducing the further spread of the disease across the globe.
Key words: COVID-19, Challenges, Optometrist, Low Vision, Social Distancing.