Awareness, knowledge, and barriers to vision therapy services among eye care practitioners

Background: Vision therapy (VT) is recognized as an effective treatment for various binocular and accommodative disorders. However, the awareness and integration of VT among eye care professionals (ECPs) remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and understanding of vision therapy among eye care professionals, specifically optometrists and ophthalmologists, in India. Methods: Cross-sectional research conducted from June to November 2024, comprising Indian optometrists and ophthalmologists. A validated 19-item questionnaire was created through expert consultation and pilot testing. It was disseminated both online and in person, accompanied by reminders for non-respondents. SPSS v29 assessed awareness, knowledge, and barriers employing Cronbach's alpha and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). Results: 251 practitioners across six Indian states, revealed that 36.9% reported vergence problems and 27.2% identified sensory motor anomalies as predominant binocular vision concerns. Barriers were the substantial expense of vision therapy kits (47.41%) and patient apathy (97.6%). The Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that educational quality substantially influenced knowledge and awareness (p<0.01). Conclusions: Public health efforts aimed at teaching eye care practitioners on vision therapy can enhance referral practices, hence improving health outcomes for patients. Moreover, augmenting practitioners' comprehension of vision therapy would enable them to advocate proficiently for these services, tackling the current obstacles encountered by patients.