PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Anthea Burnett AU - Prakash Paudel AU - Jessica Massie AU - Neath Kong AU - Ek Kunthea AU - Varghese Thomas AU - Tim R Fricke AU - Ling Lee TI - Parents’ willingness to pay for children’s spectacles in Cambodia AID - 10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000654 DP - 2021 Feb 01 TA - BMJ Open Ophthalmology PG - e000654 VI - 6 IP - 1 4099 - http://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000654.short 4100 - http://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000654.full SO - BMJ Open Ophth2021 Feb 01; 6 AB - Background/aim To determine willingness to pay for children’s spectacles, and barriers to purchasing children’s spectacles in Cambodia.Methods We conducted vision screenings, and eye examinations as indicated, for all consenting children at 21 randomly selected secondary schools. We invited parents/guardians of children found to have refractive problems to complete a willingness to pay for spectacles survey, using a binary-with-follow-up technique.Results We conducted vision screenings on 12 128 secondary schoolchildren, and willingness to pay for spectacles surveys with 491 parents/guardians (n=491) from Kandal and Phnom Penh provinces in Cambodia. We found 519 children with refractive error, 7 who had pre-existing spectacles and 14 recommended spectacles for lower ametropias. About half (53.2%; 95% CI 44.0% to 62.1%) of parents/guardians were willing to pay KHR70 000 (US$17.5; average market price) or more for spectacles. Mean willingness-to-pay price was KHR74 595 (US$18.6; 95% CI KHR64 505 to 86 262; 95% CI US$16.1 to US$21.6) in Phnom Penh and KHR55 651 (US$13.9; 95% CI KHR48 021 to 64 494; 95% CI US$12.0 to US$16.1) in Kandal province. Logistic regression suggested parents/guardians with college education (OR 6.8; p<0.001), higher household incomes (OR 8.0; p=0.006) and those wearing spectacles (OR 2.2; p=0.01) were more likely to be willing to pay ≥US$17.5. The most common reasons for being unwilling to pay US$17.5 were related to cost (58.8%). The most common barrier to spectacle wear was fear that spectacles weaken children’s eyes (36.0%).Conclusions With almost half of parents/guardians unwilling to pay for spectacles at the current average market price, financial support through a subsidised spectacle scheme might be required for children to access spectacles in Cambodia.