Background: Ophthalmic emergencies are threats to the integrity of the visual system, and thus require immediate medical attention. The present study was aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of retinal detachment (RD), acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG), and central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) among the Saudi population visiting outpatient clinics at King Khalid University Hospitals (KKUH), and to compare awareness and knowledge of three ophthalmic emergencies between those with and without risk of developing the selected ophthalmic emergencies.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using systematic random sampling and a self-administered questionnaire distributed randomly to 313 Saudi citizens visiting outpatient clinics at KKUH in Riyadh during February 2017. The study measured the awareness and knowledge of RD, AACG, and CRAO.
Results: The total sample consisted of 313 participants, with almost two-thirds being male [222/313 (70.9%)]. The vast majority [147/311 (47.3%)] of the sample underwent an eye examination within the last 2 years. Females were more aware of the existence of CRAO [15/91 (16.5%)] and AACG [44/91 (48.4)] compared to males. CRAO had the least awareness level compared to the rest of the emergencies, but the highest knowledge of its risk factors [11/32 (34.4%)]. The awareness of RD increased with aging (p = 0.008). The study did not find any statistically significant association between the presence of risk factors for the disease and its awareness.
Conclusion: Based on the present study outcomes, both knowledge and awareness of the diseases are low among the Saudi population. Thus, to ameliorate awareness and knowledge, there is a need for public health education of ophthalmic emergencies. Teaching the public about both the risk factors and symptoms will lead to early recognition of the diseases and, thus, prevention.
Key words: Ophthalmic emergencies, acute angle-closure glaucoma, retinal detachment, central retinal artery occlusion
|
