BACKGROUND Uncorrected refractive errors contribute enormously to the burden of avoidable visual impairment worldwide. There is a huge disparity in different parts of the globe in context to spectacle coverage for distance vision. This study was undertaken with objectives of determining prevalence of spectacle coverage, unmet needs and associated factors among adults in a rural community of north India. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out within selected clusters of Jhajjar district of Haryana. All participants aged > 15 years underwent visual acuity assessment by LogMAR "E" screening chart. Participants with presenting visual acuity < 6/12 in any eye and all current spectacle users underwent detailed ophthalmic examination and refraction. Additional details about spectacles, barriers for their use and willingness to pay for them were collected. Participants with met and unmet need for spectacle use at visual acuity > 6/12 was computed. These are reported as proportions with 95% confidence intervals. Associated factors with unmet need were determined using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 6910 participants were examined. The current spectacle use was 7.5% (95% Confidence Interval CI: 6.5, 8.7). The spectacle coverage was found in 33.3% (95% CI: 30.0, 36.7) participants among those in need. The unmet need was found in 10.8% of participants (95% CI: 10.1, 11.6). On multivariable analysis, odds of unmet need was associated with age, gender, level of education and marriage status. The most common barrier for refractive correction was lack of perceived need for refraction and its correction. CONCLUSION There is substantial unmet need for distance vision spectacles in this population. It is imperative that multi-component intervention be implemented to improve spectacle coverage in this rural north Indian setting.

中文翻译：

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使用眼镜进行远距视觉：印度北部农村地区的覆盖率，需求缺口和障碍。

背景技术未校正的屈光不正极大地加剧了世界范围内可避免的视觉障碍的负担。在远视眼镜的覆盖范围方面，全球不同地区存在巨大差异。进行这项研究的目的是确定印度北部农村社区成年人的眼镜覆盖率，未满足的需求和相关因素。方法在哈里亚纳邦（Haryana）贾哈（Jhajjar）地区选定的集群内进行了基于社区的横断面研究。所有年龄大于15岁的参与者均通过LogMAR“ E”筛查图进行了视力评估。参与者的任何一只眼睛的视敏度均小于6/12，所有当前的眼镜使用者均接受了详细的眼科检查和验光。有关眼镜的其他详细信息，收集了使用它们的障碍和付款意愿。计算了视力> 6/12时满足和未满足眼镜使用需求的参与者。这些报告为具有95％置信区间的比例。使用双变量和多变量logistic回归分析确定未满足需求的相关因素。结果共检查了6910名参与者。当前的眼镜使用率为7.5％（95％置信区间CI：6.5、8.7）。在需要帮助的参与者中，有33.3％（95％CI：30.0，36.7）的参与者发现了眼镜的覆盖范围。未满足的需求在10.8％的参与者中发现（95％CI：10.1、11.6）。在多变量分析中，未满足需求的几率与年龄，性别，受教育程度和婚姻状况有关。屈光矫正的最常见障碍是缺乏对屈光及其矫正的认识。结论该人群对远视眼镜的需求尚未得到满足。当务之急是在印度北部农村地区实施多成分干预措施，以改善眼镜覆盖率。