Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus
Background: Keratoconus has a global prevalence of 0.2 to 4790 per 100 000 persons and there is currently no published report about its incidence, prevalence or the role of optometrists in its management in Uganda. This study looked at the role of optometrists in the diagnosis, management and referr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | African Vision and Eye Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/968 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850235406306508800 |
|---|---|
| author | Godfrey Wanok Simon Arunga Baljean Dhillon Naomi Nsubuga |
| author_facet | Godfrey Wanok Simon Arunga Baljean Dhillon Naomi Nsubuga |
| author_sort | Godfrey Wanok |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Keratoconus has a global prevalence of 0.2 to 4790 per 100 000 persons and there is currently no published report about its incidence, prevalence or the role of optometrists in its management in Uganda. This study looked at the role of optometrists in the diagnosis, management and referral of patients with keratoconus in Uganda.
Aim: To determine the knowledge, experiences and practices of optometrists in the management of keratoconus in Uganda.
Setting: This study was conducted in Uganda.
Methods: Fifteen optometrists who had practiced for at least one year were recruited into the study, which was conducted in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonisation Tripartite Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. The study involved interviews that were conducted over zoom and telephones, which were considered for participants who had internet challenges. The sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and themes were derived.
Results: The median number of years of experience was 7 years. The participants’ experiences were reported in terms of diagnosis, management and referral of patients with keratoconus and common themes were explored. Retinoscopy and Munson’s sign were the most common diagnostic methods while spectacles were the most common management option used by the optometrists.
Conclusion: Most optometrists relied on retinoscopy for diagnosis and spectacles for the management of keratoconus because of the lack of diagnostic equipment and challenges associated with contact lens practice in Uganda.
Contribution: This is the first study to explore how keratoconus is managed by optometrists in Uganda and the results can be used to improve patient care in the country. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-609fe95d90a847b4b1ca4158e27e9ce5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2413-3183 2410-1516 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Vision and Eye Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-609fe95d90a847b4b1ca4158e27e9ce52025-08-20T02:02:16ZengAOSISAfrican Vision and Eye Health2413-31832410-15162025-02-01841e1e910.4102/aveh.v84i1.968623Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconusGodfrey Wanok0Simon Arunga1Baljean Dhillon2Naomi Nsubuga3Deanery of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, MSc Primary Care Ophthalmology (Online Learning) programme, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; and, Advanced Care Research Centre (ACRC) Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; and, Robert O Curle Ophthalmology Suite, Institute of Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, EdinburghDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; and, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; and, Dr. Arunga’s Eye Hospital, MbararaRobert O Curle Ophthalmology Suite, Institute of Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; and, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, EdinburghDepartment of Allied Health Sciences, Optometry Program, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, KampalaBackground: Keratoconus has a global prevalence of 0.2 to 4790 per 100 000 persons and there is currently no published report about its incidence, prevalence or the role of optometrists in its management in Uganda. This study looked at the role of optometrists in the diagnosis, management and referral of patients with keratoconus in Uganda. Aim: To determine the knowledge, experiences and practices of optometrists in the management of keratoconus in Uganda. Setting: This study was conducted in Uganda. Methods: Fifteen optometrists who had practiced for at least one year were recruited into the study, which was conducted in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonisation Tripartite Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. The study involved interviews that were conducted over zoom and telephones, which were considered for participants who had internet challenges. The sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and themes were derived. Results: The median number of years of experience was 7 years. The participants’ experiences were reported in terms of diagnosis, management and referral of patients with keratoconus and common themes were explored. Retinoscopy and Munson’s sign were the most common diagnostic methods while spectacles were the most common management option used by the optometrists. Conclusion: Most optometrists relied on retinoscopy for diagnosis and spectacles for the management of keratoconus because of the lack of diagnostic equipment and challenges associated with contact lens practice in Uganda. Contribution: This is the first study to explore how keratoconus is managed by optometrists in Uganda and the results can be used to improve patient care in the country.https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/968contact lenseskeratoconusoptometristsspectaclesuganda. |
| spellingShingle | Godfrey Wanok Simon Arunga Baljean Dhillon Naomi Nsubuga Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus African Vision and Eye Health contact lenses keratoconus optometrists spectacles uganda. |
| title | Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus |
| title_full | Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus |
| title_short | Knowledge, experience and practices of optometrists in Uganda about keratoconus |
| title_sort | knowledge experience and practices of optometrists in uganda about keratoconus |
| topic | contact lenses keratoconus optometrists spectacles uganda. |
| url | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/968 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT godfreywanok knowledgeexperienceandpracticesofoptometristsinugandaaboutkeratoconus AT simonarunga knowledgeexperienceandpracticesofoptometristsinugandaaboutkeratoconus AT baljeandhillon knowledgeexperienceandpracticesofoptometristsinugandaaboutkeratoconus AT naominsubuga knowledgeexperienceandpracticesofoptometristsinugandaaboutkeratoconus |