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The country's 70.4 per cent public transport drivers have some kind of problems with their eyesight, findings of a survey revealed on Saturday.
Of the 70.4 per cent drivers, some 64.66 per cent drivers have never visited a physician for their problems, and 78.69 per cent do not use any kind of power glass.
These were revealed in the survey - "Eye Health Condition of Public Transport Drivers" - conducted by Eye Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (MSS), a non-government organisation.
MSS, under its Eye Care Project (ECP), carried out the survey on 500 drivers in eight bus-stands in Dhaka from January 01 to January 20.
The selected drivers, who participated in the survey, belong to 31-40 years age group, and have more than 10 years of experience.
Some 40.4 per cent participants were bus drivers, 9.4 per cent minibus drivers, 24 per cent covered van or lorry drivers, and 26.2 per cent truck drivers.
Of the participants, a total of 437 or 87.4 per cent drive vehicles on inter-district routes, and 63 or 12.6 per cent on city routes.
According to the survey findings, 258 or 73.3 per cent of the problematic drivers have problems in their both eyes.
On the other hand, 12.22 per cent or 43 drivers have problems in right eye, and 14.49 per cent or 51 have problems in left eye.
Some 75.6 per cent drivers, who have problems with eyesight, said they have difficulties in using mobile phones or reading newspapers due to weak eyesight.
Some 32.24 per cent said they have problems in reading road signs or shop signs.
Of all the participants, only 26.2 per cent or 131 drivers visited doctors for their eye problems.
Speaking at a press conference, President of MSS Feroz M. Hassan said the purpose of the survey is to find out the drivers' problems with their eyesight and persuade them to take treatment for the problems.
"The survey will shed light in some less-discussed areas of public transport sector," he added.
MSS will run health campaign for the drivers on February 24-25 in Tejgaon Truck Terminal, and on March 2-3 in Syedabad Terminal.
Replying to a question, MSS Adviser Tarikul Ghani said they are not quite sure, if weak eyesight of the drivers is responsible for the increasing number of road accidents in the country.
"There is no post-accident medical test for drivers' eyes, so we are not that certain about it," he added.