Ankit S Varshney¹* and Debanjali Bhattacharjee²

¹Department of Optometry, Shree Bharatimaiya College of Optometry and Physiotherapy, Surat, Gujarat, India
²Department of Optometry, Manipal Tata Medical College, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India

*Corresponding Author: Ankit S Varshney, Department of Optometry, Shree Bharatimaiya College of Optometry and Physiotherapy, Surat, Gujarat, India.

Received: August 27, 2025; Published: September 29, 2025

Abstract

Low vision, distinct from blindness, refers to a significant but usable reduction in eyesight that cannot be improved with standard corrective measures such as glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. It lies between correctable vision and total blindness. Individuals with low vision require access to specialized care, assistive technologies, and opportunities to maintain independence. Recognizing the challenges associated with low vision and implementing interventions to enhance autonomy are essential.

This study assessed the utilization of prescribed low vision devices among patients attending a tertiary government eye hospital in Bangladesh. A hospital-based prospective observational design was adopted at the low vision department of the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital (NIO&H), Dhaka. Based on the National Blindness and Low Vision Survey of Bangladesh, the calculated sample size was 180. Participants ranged in age from 4 to 76 years (mean 32.9 ± 13.9 years); 59.3% were male and 40.7% female. Retinitis pigmentosa and fundus dystrophy were the most frequent causes of low vision. The most commonly prescribed devices were binocular telescopes and hand-held magnifiers. The overall utilization rate was 30.5%. Reasons for non-use included financial constraints, lack of awareness, social stigma, and fear of job loss.

This study provides insight into the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with low vision in Bangladesh, highlights utilization patterns of prescribed devices, and identifies barriers to service uptake in a government setting.

 Keywords: Low Vision; Assistive Devices; Utilization; Bangladesh

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Citation

Citation: Nahid Ferdausi., et al. “Utilization of Prescribed Low-Vision Devices by Patients Attending a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Bangladesh".Acta Scientific Ophthalmology 8.11 (2025): 03-07.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Nahid Ferdausi., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.