Background: Pediatric eye disease can affect any part of the eye and potentially lead to a permanent eye injury. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of pediatricians in Saudi Arabia towards common eye conditions in children.
Methods:
A self-administered questionnaire, distributed online and in hard copy, measured responses from 105 participants using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for analysis. Participants had a mean age of 32 ± 9.0 years and a mean practice experience of 6 ± 6.8 years, with 59% being female and 56.2% pediatric residents.
Results:
The causes of a red painful eye were identified, with glaucoma (96.5%), conjunctivitis (95.2%), corneal abrasions/trauma (93.3%), and uveitis (89.5%) being most commonly reported. Leukocoria was recognized as sight-threatening by 89.5% and life-threatening by 88.6% of participants. Causes of strabismus, including central causes (89.5%) and amblyopia (88.6%), were acknowledged. Signs of congenital glaucoma, such as a large cornea (88.6%), hazy cornea (86.7%), and excessive tearing (76.2%), were well-identified. Approximately 70.5% of participants conducted eye examinations for children, citing a lack of equipment as the main obstacle. For retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening, 59% would refer premature babies at 4-6 weeks or 32 weeks. Immediate referral to an ophthalmologist for painful red eyes was endorsed by 82%, while 9.5% suggested eye drops. A high percentage (92.4%) would promptly refer cases of strabismus to an ophthalmologist.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, pediatricians exhibited good knowledge of common eye disorders but demonstrated a need for improved understanding of retinopathy of prematurity and the importance of regular eye examinations. Initiatives like workshops and educational programs are recommended for enhancing knowledge in pediatric eye diseases.
Key words: Knowledge, attitude, eye disorders, pediatricians.
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