Background: Saudi studies conducted among the general population revealed insufficient knowledge regarding eye problems, including cataract. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of medical students about cataract. Methodology: A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires about cataract was conducted among 500 medical students of Taif University during the academic year 20182019. Results: Almost 82% of the sample heard about cataract, 69% of the participants reported more than one correct answer about risk factors, 76% reported that aging was a risk factor of cataract, 70% said that cataract could cause blindness, while 82% replied that the surgical intervention was the recommended treatment of cataract. Only 17% of them reported the right answer to the causes of blindness in cataract. For most of these questions, the students in clinical years showed a highly significant difference in responding to the correct answers when compared to students in basic years. Conclusion: Students from Taif University possess a good knowledge regarding cataract, but the deficient knowledge regarding some clinical aspects related to cataract calls for a curriculum reform of ophthalmology for sufficient training of medical students on clinical aspects related to cataract.
Key words: Medical, students, Taif, awareness, cataract, surgical.
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