Parents’ Awareness and Attitude Toward Pediatrics Eye Diseases in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The necessity of early detection and parents' knowledge of pediatric eye conditions and eye care is crucial, not only because of the severe complications it can carry, like blindness, but also due to the availability of preventive measures and the importance of vision in a child's growth and social life. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness of and attitudes toward children's eye diseases of parents in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from September to December 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was randomly distributed to fathers and mothers of children younger than 18 through social media platforms. Results: A total of 470 parents who met the study’s inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. The results showed that 72.8% of the parents had poor awareness of pediatric eye diseases, 24.5% had good awareness, and 2.8% had excellent awareness. With regard to the symptoms that might prompt parents to take their children to an eye specialist, eye redness had the highest percentage (24.5%). It was also shown that 68.5% would allow their children to undergo eye surgery, if necessary, while most of those who refused to do so (11.3%) cited fear of the surgical outcome as the cause of their refusal. Conclusion: Our study findings show inadequate parental knowledge about common pediatric eye diseases and eye care practices for children. Therefore, awareness and education programs targeting both parents are recommended to raise the parents’ level of awareness of pediatric eye diseases and to improve their attitudes toward the same.