Knowledge and Awareness of Parents and the General Population Living in Riyadh About Amblyopia.

Abstract

Introduction Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental disorder of the visual cortex that usually occurs due to abnormal visual development early in life. The clinical importance of amblyopia is that it is a significant cause of visual loss in the pediatric population. Knowing and understanding amblyopia plays a crucial role in management since the earlier the intervention, the better the results. Aim This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of amblyopia among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Subject and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered Arabic questionnaire was distributed to the general population through social media using Google Forms. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, marital status, etc.) and questions to assess the knowledge about amblyopia, including its definition, etiologies, and treatment. Results Of the 488 participants, 57.4% were females, and 38.3% were aged between 26 and 39 years old. Of the participants, 46.5% have heard of amblyopia. The overall mean knowledge score was 16.9 (SD 3.09) out of 32 points. In terms of knowledge, 64.5% had moderate knowledge, 1.8% had good knowledge, and 33.6% had poor knowledge levels. Factors associated with increased knowledge were being older, female gender, married, having children, having a family history of eye disease, and hearing of amblyopia. Conclusion Consistent with the literature, this study finds a need for more knowledge about amblyopia among the general population. Significant predictors of increased knowledge include younger age group, female gender, having children, family history of eye disease, and ever heard of amblyopia.