목적: 눈 건강에 대한 성인들의 의식과 관리 실태를 조사하여, 안 전문가로서의 안경사에 대한 인식을 분석하고자 하였다. 방법: 성인 349명을 대상으로 눈 건강관리 실태 특성, 눈 건강관리와 안경원 인식, 눈 건강관리 의식을 설문 조사하여 분석하였다. 결과: 평소 눈 건강에 대한 정보 습득은 인터넷을 이용하는 경우가 많았고, 하루 동안 스마트폰과 TV 및 PC 사용 시간은 각각 1시간~3시간이 많았다. 안과와 안경원을 방문한 시기를 비교한 결과, 안과의 최근 방문은 2년 이상 경과한 경우가 높았으나, 안경원의 최근 방문은 6개월 이내가 많아 대조적인 모습을 보였다. 안경사로부터 얻게 되는 눈 건강정보가 유익할 것이란 생각의 응답자가 많았으나, 오히려 안경원에서 눈 건강정보를 습득한 경험이 없는 경우의 응답자가 많았다. 안경사에게서 희망하는 눈 건강정보로는 시력관리가 많았다. 눈 건강관리 의식의 총점은 3.18점이었으며, 눈 건강관리의 중요성이 4.23으로 가장 높았다. 눈 건강관리에 대한 의식은 여성이 (3.28점) 남성보다 높았으며(p=0.01), 연령층이 높을수록 높았다(p=0.00). 스마트폰 사용 시간(p=0.03) 및 TV 시청시간이 짧을수록, 안과 방문시기가 최근일수록 의식이 높았다(p=0.00). 안경원 방문시기가 최근일수록 그리고 방문주기가 짧을수록 각각 눈 건강관리에 대한 인식이 높았다(p=0.00, p=0.00). 또한, 안경사에 의한 눈 건강정보가 유익할 것으로 생각하는 긍정적인 답변(그렇다)의 응답자가 높았으며, 실제 건강정보를 습득한 경험이 있는 응답자들의 눈 건강관리 인식도가 높았다(p=0.00, p=0.00). 결론: 본 연구 결과, 눈 건강관리에서 관리의식의 중요도가 가장 높았고 주관적 지식수준은 가장 낮았다. 눈 건강관리 정보를 안경원에서 얻은 경험은 있으나, 주로 인터넷을 많이 활용하였다. 안경사에게서 기대하는 눈 건강정보는 시력관리가 가장 많았으나, 안경원을 2년 이상의 긴 주기로 방문하는 사람이 많았다. 이에, 안경사는 국민의 눈 건강관리에 최선을 다하는 전문가라는 인식과 위상이 높아질 수 있도록, 안경사의 역할 확대를 위한 방법과 정책 시행의 연구가 필요하겠다.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to analyze the perception of Korean opticians as experts by examining adult awareness of eye healthcare. Methods: The responder’s characteristics, reality and characteristics of eye health care, and expected roles for Korean opticians in eye healthcare awareness, were analyzed using a survey of 349 adults. Results: The internet was typically used to obtain information regarding eye healthcare. The most commonly reported cell phone use time was 1-3 hours per day. Similarly, the most commonly reported TV and PC use was 1-3 hours per day. In a comparison of visiting ophthalmic clinics and Korean optician shops, while the most recent visit to an eye doctor was more than 2 years ago, the most recent visit to a Korean optician shop was within 6 months for many respondents. Many respondents expected that information for eye healthcare received from Korean opticians would be helpful, but many did not report obtaining information from Korean opticians. The desired information from Korean opticians was about maintaining good vision. The total score for awareness of eye healthcare was 3.18 and importance of eye healthcare was 4.23. Women’s awareness (3.28 points) for eye health care was higher (p=0.01) than men’s; furthermore, older people had higher awareness (p=0.00). Shorter usage time (p=0.03) for cell phones and TV viewing was the beneficial eye healthcare step that most respondents were aware of. Additionally, respondents who had more recently visited an optical clinic were more conscious of eye healthcare (p=0.00). The more recent the last visit to an optician shop and the shorter the interval between visits, the better the perception of eye healthcare (p=0.00 and p=0.00, respectively). In addition, positive respondents who thought that information regarding eye healthcare from a Korean optician would be helpful was higher, and respondents with experience of learning about eye healthcare had a high awareness of eye healthcare (p=0.00 and p=0.00, respectively). Conclusions: In this study of the perception of eye health, respondents thought that eye health is important, as shown by the highest the importance in responses, and dependence on subjective knowledge levels was low. In some cases, information regarding eye healthcare was obtained from Korean optician, but the internet was the main source of information. The information that respondent wanted to obtain from Korean opticians was about eye care, but the visit interval was longer than 2 years. Accordingly, in order to increase the recognition and status of Korean opticians as experts who do their best to improve the eye healthcare of the people, research on methods and policy implementation to expand the role of Korean opticians will be needed.