IMPACT OF PARENTAL PERCEPTION ON PEDIATRIC VISION CARE IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF DISTRICT RAHIM YAR KHAN.

Background Pediatric vision care is crucial for early detection and management of ocular conditions that can impact a child's development, academic performance, and quality of life. Parental perception plays a pivotal role in determining whether children receive timely eye examinations and appropriate interventions. Disparities in healthcare awareness and access between rural and urban populations contribute to differences in pediatric vision care utilization. Understanding these variations is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve eye health outcomes in children. Objective To evaluate the impact of parental perception on pediatric vision care in rural and urban areas of District Rahim Yar Khan. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at LRBT Eye Hospital and Yousaf Eye Hospital from November 2023 to July 2024. A total of 400 participants aged 0–15 years were included using a non-probability sampling technique. The sample was equally divided into rural (n=200) and urban (n=200) groups. After obtaining informed consent, parents were interviewed regarding their awareness and attitudes toward pediatric eye care, and children underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. Slit lamp examination assessed the lids, conjunctiva, cornea, lens, fundus, retina, and macula. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and statistical comparisons were made between rural and urban groups. Results Slit lamp examination revealed lid inflammation in 3.8%, redness in 1.3%, and lesions in 0.5%, while 94.5% had normal lids. Conjunctivitis was observed in 7.3%, foreign body presence in 1%, and 91.8% had normal conjunctiva. Corneal findings included opacity (0.3%), inflammation (0.8%), and neovascularization (0.3%), with 98.8% having a healthy cornea. All participants had clear lens media. Fundus examination showed hemorrhages in 0.3% and blood vessel abnormalities in 0.3%, with 99.8% having normal fundus findings. Rural parents exhibited significantly lower awareness of pediatric vision care, with 92.0% seeking an eye doctor only when complaints arose, compared to 44.5% in urban parents. Eye examination history showed that 99.5% of rural children had never been examined, compared to 33.5% in urban areas. Healthcare accessibility also differed, with only 23.5% of rural participants having access to eye care services compared to 100% in urban areas. Conclusion Parental perception significantly influences pediatric vision care, with rural parents demonstrating lower awareness and healthcare-seeking behaviors compared to urban parents. Socioeconomic and educational disparities contribute to these differences, highlighting the need for targeted awareness programs and improved healthcare accessibility in rural areas to ensure early detection and management of childhood eye conditions.