Acuity of dentists under simulated clinical conditions - A cross-sectional study

Introduction: The quality of work carried out by the dentists depends upon a variety of factors out of which knowledge, experience, training, visual acuity and manual dexterity play a distinctive role. Good eyesight for dental professionals is essential to improve their learning, clinical performance and also to provide the best dental care for patients. Aim & Objectives: The present study was carried out with an aim to test the visual acuity and its influence on age in dental professionals in a simulated clinical condition. Materials & Method: Study involved a total no. of 105 dental students and teachers between the age group of 20-40years. The visual acuity was tested using a Snellen chart mounted in a class II proximal cavity in a molar tooth and was recorded at a fixed and variable distance, comparing the visual acuity with age in subjects with and without refractive errors. Conclusion: Visual acuity evaluation of dentists using the Snellen chart showed that there was definitely a poor acuity of vision in all the experimental age groups above 20years of age with no statistical significant association between various age groups for the fixed as well as variable distance. Additionally, there was no association between visual acuity of various age groups and refractory errors.