Abstract

Background: Prolonged or excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been linked to multiple diseases related to the eyes, skin, and immunity. UVR increases the risk of developing ocular diseases as it passes through the eyes.
Objective: This research aims to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice patterns of sunglasses features that protect against UVR among the general population in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, enrolling adults aged 18 years and older who wear sunglasses or are willing to purchase them. A structured, pilot-validated questionnaire was developed after a literature review. The data included sociodemographic information, knowledge of UVR harms on eyes and sunglasses protective features, usage and purchasing reasons, attitudes towards wearing sunglasses, information sources, and practice patterns. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Science Software (SPSS) Program, Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).
Results: Among 804 participants, 62.8% demonstrated low awareness, and only 16.1% knew that 100% UVR protection is essential. Although most had heard of UVR and its harm, only 56.1% wore sunglasses regularly. The primary reasons for wearing sunglasses were glare reduction (88.3%) and UVR protection (69.5%). Purchasing decisions favored affordability and UVR safety, revealing a gap between awareness and actual practice.
Conclusion: The study revealed significant gaps in sunglasses-related knowledge and practices. Despite high awareness of UVR, many participants lacked understanding of key protective features, emphasizing the need for focused educational campaigns.

Key words: Keywords: Sunglasses, Ultraviolet radiation, knowledge, awareness, attitude