Factors influencing dental students to attend for eye examination

This investigation sought to determine those factors influencing dental stu dents to attend for eye examination together with the frequency of such tes ts and level of eyesight correction. A questionnaire was constructed and ci rculated to all clinical dental students attending lectures and practical c lasses in Dundee over a 1-week period. This ascertained the age and sex of the respondents and gathered information on what had prompted each individu al to attend for eye examination. The knowledge of any visual problems and their correction was also ascertained. All 114 questionnaires that were dis tributed were completed. The mean elapsed time interval since the last eye examinations was 1.81 (standard deviation = 1.19) years. The frequency of a ttendance was not affected by gender. Those who had had their eyesight corr ected were significantly (P < 0.01) more likely to attend for examination e very 2 years than those without correction. Good eyesight is important for the practice of dentistry and, although this is well recognized, it is appa rent that the need for regular testing has not been understood by all. Stre nuous efforts should be made to ensure that this message is impressed upon dental undergraduates from an early stage in their careers so that they may undergo screening every 2 years throughout their professional careers.