Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study

Introduction: Presbyopia is an age-related refractive condition that causes difficulty in seeing nearby objects clearly. It affects a significant portion of the world’s population, especially individuals over 40 years old. Many studies show variation in the utilization of eye healthcare services ac...

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Main Authors: Ranjan Shah, Sailesh Kumar Mishra, Pathiyil Ravi Shankar, Anup Subedi, Prakriti Sharma, Anil Paudel, Pankaj Ray Adhikari, Amit Kumar Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nepal Medical Association 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Nepal Medical Association
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Online Access:https://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/9109
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author Ranjan Shah
Sailesh Kumar Mishra
Pathiyil Ravi Shankar
Anup Subedi
Prakriti Sharma
Anil Paudel
Pankaj Ray Adhikari
Amit Kumar Singh
author_facet Ranjan Shah
Sailesh Kumar Mishra
Pathiyil Ravi Shankar
Anup Subedi
Prakriti Sharma
Anil Paudel
Pankaj Ray Adhikari
Amit Kumar Singh
author_sort Ranjan Shah
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Presbyopia is an age-related refractive condition that causes difficulty in seeing nearby objects clearly. It affects a significant portion of the world’s population, especially individuals over 40 years old. Many studies show variation in the utilization of eye healthcare services according to gender in resource-limited settings like Nepal. This influence access to eye care service. This study aims to investigate gender-based differences in service utilization and prescription patterns at free presbyopia camps in Nepal. Methods: A retrospective observational study analyzed anonymized socio-demographic and clinical data of 29,943 presbyopic patients attending free eye camps organized by twenty-six NNJS eye hospitals/centers across Nepal from 2020 to 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh. Data on age, gender, and spectacle prescriptions were collected to assess service utilization and gender disparities. Results: Among the total presbyopic patients 15,356 (51.3%) had high presbyopia, with a slightly higher prevalence among males 8,025 (52.3%) compared to females 7,331 (47.7%). Presbyopia prevalence increased with age, peaking at 12,522 (41.8%) in those ≥56 years. Females had higher prevalence in younger age groups, while males predominated in older groups. Conclusions: In this study, presbyopia was common in age group ≥56 years with service utilisation more by male.
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spelling doaj-art-779b855e61b94b479ee4ec9755b1bef82025-08-20T03:30:56ZengNepal Medical AssociationJournal of Nepal Medical Association0028-27151815-672X2025-06-016328710.31729/jnma.9109Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational StudyRanjan Shah0Sailesh Kumar Mishra1Pathiyil Ravi Shankar2Anup Subedi3Prakriti Sharma4Anil Paudel5Pankaj Ray Adhikari6Amit Kumar Singh7Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Central Office, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, NepalNepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Central Office, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, NepalIMU Centre for Education, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Netra Jyoti Sangh/Himalaya Eye Hospital, Gharipatan, Pokhara, NepalNepal Health Research Council, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu, Nepal, Department of Public Health, CiST College, Kathmandu, Nepal, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh/Biratnagar Eye Hospital, Rani, Biratnagar, Nepal Mechi Eye Hospital, Birtamod, Jhapa, Nepal Introduction: Presbyopia is an age-related refractive condition that causes difficulty in seeing nearby objects clearly. It affects a significant portion of the world’s population, especially individuals over 40 years old. Many studies show variation in the utilization of eye healthcare services according to gender in resource-limited settings like Nepal. This influence access to eye care service. This study aims to investigate gender-based differences in service utilization and prescription patterns at free presbyopia camps in Nepal. Methods: A retrospective observational study analyzed anonymized socio-demographic and clinical data of 29,943 presbyopic patients attending free eye camps organized by twenty-six NNJS eye hospitals/centers across Nepal from 2020 to 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh. Data on age, gender, and spectacle prescriptions were collected to assess service utilization and gender disparities. Results: Among the total presbyopic patients 15,356 (51.3%) had high presbyopia, with a slightly higher prevalence among males 8,025 (52.3%) compared to females 7,331 (47.7%). Presbyopia prevalence increased with age, peaking at 12,522 (41.8%) in those ≥56 years. Females had higher prevalence in younger age groups, while males predominated in older groups. Conclusions: In this study, presbyopia was common in age group ≥56 years with service utilisation more by male. https://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/9109eye caregender-differenceNepalpresbyopiaservice-utilization
spellingShingle Ranjan Shah
Sailesh Kumar Mishra
Pathiyil Ravi Shankar
Anup Subedi
Prakriti Sharma
Anil Paudel
Pankaj Ray Adhikari
Amit Kumar Singh
Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study
Journal of Nepal Medical Association
eye care
gender-difference
Nepal
presbyopia
service-utilization
title Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study
title_full Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study
title_fullStr Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study
title_full_unstemmed Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study
title_short Gender Differences in Service Utilization and Pattern of Free Presbyopia Glasses Distribution among Patients at Eye Camps in Nepal: An Observational Study
title_sort gender differences in service utilization and pattern of free presbyopia glasses distribution among patients at eye camps in nepal an observational study
topic eye care
gender-difference
Nepal
presbyopia
service-utilization
url https://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/9109
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