The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of refractive errors in Jordanian adults of working age, and to study the ocular biometric correlates of refractive error in this population. Refractive error and ocular biometry were measured in 1093 Jordanian adult subjects aged 17-40 years to determine the prevalence of refractive error, and explore structural correlations of ametropia. Refractive error was measured using a Grand-Seiko GR-3100K closed-view infrared autorefractor. Ocular component measurements were made using A-scan ultrasonography and autokeratometry. The prevalence of myopia [spherical equivalent refraction (SER) less than -0.50 DS] and hyperopia (SER greater than +0.50 DS) was 53.71 and 5.67% respectively; 40.62% of the sample was emmetropic (refraction between +0.50 D and -0.50 D inclusive in both principal meridians). The distribution of SER was found to show marked leptokurtosis, exhibiting a peak between plano and 1 D of myopia. Corneal radius, anterior chamber depth, crystalline lens thickness, vitreous chamber depth and axial length (AL) parameters were normally distributed in the population studied. AL to corneal curvature ratio was not normally distributed, and showed marked leptokurtosis. Linear regression analysis showed that AL correlated most closely with spherical equivalent refractive error. This study has established a database of refractive error prevalence and ocular biometric correlates of ametropia in a Middle Eastern population of working age.

BackgroundIncreasing the level of awareness of diabetic retinopathy among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus is considered an important factor for early diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate awareness of diabetic retinopathy among a sample of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Jordan.Patients and methodsThe study period was from August to December 2015. The sample was selected randomly from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the general population in three main cities of Jordan (Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa). A questionnaire was distributed to 237 participants with diabetes to assess their awareness and knowledge of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. The questionnaire included questions to assess awareness about diabetic retinopathy, sources of knowledge about the disease, and patients’ knowledge and compliance with available treatments and routine eye examinations. Patients were also questioned about the barriers that may interfere with early eye examination.ResultsA total of 237 participants (107 [45.1%] females and 130 [54.9%] males) with type 2 diabetes were interviewed. Mean age±SD for the study population was 54.51±10.28 years. Of the study population, 88.2% were aware that diabetes can affect the eyes and 81% reported that diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness. Higher level of patients’ awareness of diabetic retinopathy was related to higher level of formal education (p<0.05). The main source of information about diabetic retinopathy as reported by 47.3% patients was general practitioners. Patients’ compliance with diabetes management was relatively high; however, their compliance with routine retinal assessment was poor, with only a total of 29.5% of participants having had an eye examination in the previous year.ConclusionAwareness of the nature and consequences of diabetic retinopathy among patients with diabetes in Jordan is relatively high. However, patients’ motivation to undergo retinal assessment was poor in the sample, thus hindering early diagnosis and management.

Background: Several ocular and visual symptoms resulting from use of digital devices are collectively known as digital eye strain (DES) or computer vision syndrome (CVS). Few studies exist on the prevalence of DES among young adults in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of digital eye strain among a university student population in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with students enrolled at Al-Ahliyya Amman University in Jordan. DES was evaluated using the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q), which was filled out by students who were approached at random and signed an informed consent to participate in the study. Information related to the type, intensity of usage, settings of digital device (DD) used, and post-device use student-reported physical complaints were recorded. Results: Data from 382 students were analyzed. Prevalence of CVS was 94.5%, with tearing being the most prevalent symptom (59%), while double vision was least reported by students (18.3%). DD use for more than six hours per day was reported by 55.5% of the sample size, and 30.7% of the students reported pain in joints of fingers and wrists after using a mobile phone. Conclusion: CVS is highly prevalent among university students in Jordan. With the increased dependence on online education due to coronavirus disease, safe habits in digital device use are recommended.

Objective The study aimed to assess contact lens (CL) wear and care habits among adults in Sudan. Design An observational, non-interventional, multi-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in the CL departments of all the eye hospitals and centers, and optical centers in the Khartoum State, Sudan. Participants Established CL wearers residing in Khartoum State, Sudan. Main outcomes and measures CL wear profile, CL usage habits, hand and CL hygiene habits were assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results The average age of the 442 participants was 24.57 (± 4.87) years. Women comprised 92% of the sample. Smoking was reported by 15.8% of the sample. 81.9% wore soft spherical CL, with 43.4% of the participants were prescribed CL on a yearly replacement schedule. Only 68.3% were prescribed CL by an eye care practitioner. Multipurpose solutions were used by 78.8% of the sample to clean CL, and by 52% to clean the lens case. Compliance rate for CL wear and care among participants was 81.1%. None of the participants reported sharing CL or CL case and rinsing the case with tap water. High compliance level was observed for overnight wear; swimming and showering with CL; handwashing before CL insertion; and cleaning of CL. Moderate compliance rates were recorded for cleaning and replacing lens case, and topping up or sharing solution. Low compliance was noted for attending after care visits. Conclusions and relevance CL wearers in Sudan exhibit high to moderate levels of compliance to most contact lens wear and care aspects, except for attending aftercare visits. CL practitioners in Sudan are encouraged to prescribe CL appropriate to the lifestyle and economic situation of patients and actively recommend care products. In addition, practitioners need to follow up with patients to attend aftercare appointments, where hygienic wear and care habits should be emphasized.

⁎ Corresponding author. Abstract PurposeTo evaluate contact lens prescribing trends among optometrists in Jordan. MethodsOptometrists from 173 practices in Jordan were surveyed about prescribing contact lenses in their practice. Practitioners were required to record information for the last 10 patients that visited their practice. Demographic data such as age and gender was obtained for each patient. In addition, data relating to lens type, lens design, replacement methods and the care regime advised to each patient were recorded. Practitioners were required to provide information relating to their education and years of experience. The influence of education and experience with respect to lens prescribing trends was explored using linear regression models for the proportions of lens types fitted for patients. ResultsA total of 1730 contact lens fits were analyzed. The mean (±SD) age of lens wearers was 26.6 (±7.9) years, of whom 65% were female. Conventional hydrogel lenses were the most prescribed lenses, accounting for 60.3% of the fits, followed by silicone hydrogel lenses (31.3%), and rigid lenses (8.4%). In terms of lens design, spherical lenses appeared to be most commonly prescribed on monthly basis.Daily disposable lenses were second most prescribed lens modality, accounting for 20.4% of the study sample. Multi-purpose solution (MPS) was the preferred care regimen, with a prevalence of 88.1% reported in the study sample, compared to hydrogen peroxide (1-step and 2-step), which represented only 2.8% of the patients in this study. A relationship was established between the two educational groups for rigid lens prescribing (F = 17.4, p < 0.0001), while the experience of the optometrist was not a significant factor (F = 0.4, p = 0.54). ConclusionThis work has provides an up-to-date analysis of contact lens prescribing trends among optometrists in Jordan. Contact lens prescribing in terms of lens type, lens design, modality of wear and care regimen agree with global market trends with small variations. This report will help practitioners and the industry to detect any deficiencies in the contact lens market in Jordan, which will ease implementing current and future plans in developing contact lens practice and patient eye care in the region.