Purpose:We present the level of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among diabetic patients regarding eye complications and their care.Materials and Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted in 2008 at seven regions of Oman. Arabic speaking nurses interviewed diabetics at clinics. They used a closed ended questionnaire with 15 questions. The responses were analyzed and the KAP were grouped into excellent (>80%), good (60 to 79%), average (40 to 59%), poor (20 to 39%) and very poor (<20%). They were also compared among epidemiologic variants.Result:Of the 750 participants, ‘Excellent’, grade of knowledge about diagnosis and eye care was present in 547 (72.9%) and 135 (18%) persons respectively. The ‘excellent’ grade of attitude about eye involvement and eye care was found in 135 (18%) and 224 (29.9%) participants. The practice for undergoing eye check up and accepting treatment was of ’excellent’ grade in 390 (52%) and 594 (79.2%) respectively. Age (OR = 0.98), Sharqiya region (OR = 25) and ‘5 to 9’ duration of DM (OR = 2.1) were associated with the knowledge. ‘<1 year’ duration (OR = 0.3) and Dhakhiliya region (OR = 39) were associated with the attitude while ‘5 to 9 year’ duration (OR = 3.4) was associated with better practices.Conclusions:Knowledge about eye complications and care is satisfactory among persons with diabetes. However, levels of attitude and practice were less than desired and should be improved. This could strengthen program approach for early detection and care of eye complications of diabetes in Oman.

Visual functions of children with hearing disability were evaluated in a school of Muscat, Oman in 2006. Two hundred and twenty-three children were tested for near vision, distant vision, contrast sensitivity, color vision, field of vision, motion perception and crowding. Profound and severe hearing loss was noted in 161 and 63 students respectively. Thirty-five (81%) students with refractive error were using spectacles. Color vision and field of vision was defective in one student each. In 286 (64.1%) eyes, contrast sensitivity was defective. Abnormal contrast sensitivity was not associated with the severity of hearing loss [RR = 1.04 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.29)]. Children with hearing impairment should be assessed for visual functions. Refractive error and defect in contrast sensitivity were unusually high among these children. In addition to visual aids, we recommend environmental changes to improve illumination and contrast to improve the quality of life of such children with double disability.

Hereditary and anthropometric factors seem to be associated with myopia in Omani children. The genetic etiology needs further confirmation.

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