Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Optometrists Regarding Low Vision Services in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: To address the human resources challenge for the provision of low vision services in Saudi Arabia, this study sought to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of optometrists in Saudi Arabia regarding low vision services. The knowledge and attitudes to low vision services can influence the provision of low vision services by optometrists. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey of optometrists practicing in Saudi Arabia was undertaken using an online questionnaire designed to elicit the opinions of respondents. The online questionnaire was sent out to optometrists on the official mailing list of registered optometrists and those on the mailing list of the Saudi Society of Optometry. Results: Only 26.5% of the respondents correctly indicated the correct designation of low vision in terms of visual acuity. Although 95.8% indicated that optical low vision devices could help people with low vision, 81.6% reported that low vision devices were expensive, and 42.9% felt low vision practice was not profitable. Only 10.4% of respondents provide low vision services in their practice. Insufficient training in low vision care was the main barrier militating against the provision of low vision services. Conclusion: The pertinent finding in this study is that about a quarter of the respondents could correctly designate low vision in terms of visual acuity using the World Health Organization (WHO) definition. The study concluded that there was poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices of optometrists in Saudi Arabia regarding low vision, which has implications for the provision of low vision services by optometrists.

Perspectives and clinical practices of optometrists in Saudi Arabia concerning myopia in children

“…Based on the results, the distribution of respondents by region and gender was similar to that obtained from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties in 2021. The obtained response rate of the current study was 9.06%, which is higher than the rates reported in previous studies that targeted optometrists and other healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia at 2.6% and 1.6%, respectively [23][24] . With respect to the clinical tests used to examine schoolaged children with myopia, there was a slightly higher preference for cycloplegic refraction measures (59% and 54%, respectively).…”

“…The proportion of respondents who completed the survey did not significantly differ from the population of practicing optometrists in Saudi Arabia based on sex (χ 2 =0.44, P=0.5) and region (χ 2 =2.05, P=0.36). The percentage of respondents in this study was greater than that reported in previous studies that targeted optometrists and other healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia [23][24] .…”

Assessing low vision care and the utilisation of optical low vision aids among patients with visual impairment in Taiwan

“…4 In severe cases, some participants preferred microscopes for magnification while performing near tasks and the prescription for near vision decreased significantly from +19.50 to +10.23 D when correcting for near vision; this improvement can lead to noticeable changes in magnification (Table 3). In addition, various lens types, refractive indices, coatings 27,28 and prism designs can also be incorporated to address visual limitations, such as photophobia, glare and reduced contrast sensitivity simultaneously with a single pair of eyeglasses (Table 4). 10,11…”