Traditional and Self-Medication Practice for Common Eye Ailments

Abstract

AIM: To determine the use, types, and nature of traditional and self-medication practices for common eye ailments in people visiting a tertiary care hospital.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study.

DURATION AND SETTINGS OF STUDY: This study was carried out at the department of Clinical
Ophthalmology, Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) Peshawar. The duration of the study was six months from 1st September 2020 to 25th February 2021.

METHODS: Self-designed questionnaire was used to find out the type and frequency of traditional eye medication and self-medications among people visiting Eye OPD. It is comprised of three parts. The first part consisted of personal details; the second part included questions about traditional eye medications while the third part included questions regarding eye self-medications.

RESULTS: Among 113 participants, 54 (48%) were males and 59 (52%) were females. The mean age was 41.36 years. Out of all 113 participants, 56 (49.6%) participants were practicing Traditional eye medication, while 38 (33.6%) participants were practicing self-medications for their eye problems. The majority (n= 81; 72%) of the participants were married. City dwellers were 62 (55%). Among the female participants, 36 (32%) were housewives. Among males, 12 (10.6%) belonged to the labor force.

CONCLUSION: Traditional Eye Medication and Self- Eye Medication were in practice for various eye ailments. Such practices can cause some severe complications and irreversible blindness.