Abstract
PurposeGlaucoma is an irreversible chronic disease that damages the optic nerve. Knowledge and skills related to glaucoma are extremely important for frontline physicians. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and management as well as examination and referral practices related to glaucoma among physicians at primary care centers and secondary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodThis was a cross-sectional study of 126 physicians, including general practitioners as well as emergency, internal, and family physicians from three hospitals and five medical centers in Riyadh. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. It was divided into six categories: sociodemographic data and practice setting; and glaucoma assessment-questions regarding risk factors, knowledge, examination, management, and referral practices.ResultsOf the 126 participants, 32.8% were family physicians. Surprisingly, the overall knowledge score for glaucoma was suboptimal (34.2%). While half of the doctors were aware of the medications used in glaucoma, 88.7% considered themselves unqualified to manage glaucoma. Although 93.7% agreed that increased ocular pressure requires urgent referral to an ophthalmologist, only 33.3% stated they were comfortable using tonometry.ConclusionThe majority of physicians (65.8%) showed a poor level of knowledge regarding glaucoma, which was reflected in their referral practices (66.9%). Therefore, promoting increased glaucoma awareness along with improved examination skills and referral practice among frontline physicians is essential to prevent this avoidable cause of blindness.
Highlights
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, and it worsens over time if left untreated
This study aimed to determine the knowledge and management as well as examination and referral practices related to glaucoma among physicians at primary care centers and secondary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The majority of physicians (65.8%) showed a poor level of knowledge regarding glaucoma, which was reflected in their referral practices (66.9%)
Summary
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, and it worsens over time if left untreated. It is often linked to a build-up of pressure inside the eye. It is a chronic, irreversible disease that leads to optic neuropathy [1]. It is a leading cause of blindness worldwide [2]. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of blindness is 1.5%, and glaucoma is responsible for 3% of all blindness in patients over 40 years old [4,5]. Glaucoma is considered to be one of the most common causes of blindness in Saudi Arabia
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