REPRESENTATIVE EYE DISEASES AND THEIR PREVALENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Many patients with symptomatic eye conditions present initially to their primary care physician. Eye issues account for 2-3% of all primary care office visits. Knowing how to respond when these patients come is critical for the family physician, as is knowing when to refer them to an ophthalmologist for additional care. Family doctors should be able to spot eye disorders that can cause vision loss and necessitate an immediate referral to an ophthalmologist. A comprehensive history and physical examination are essential in reaching a diagnosis and determining the severity of the eye problem. Visual changes, length of symptoms, presence or absence of a foreign body, history of trauma or recent eye surgery, and concomitant symptoms such as a headache, nausea, or ocular discharge should all be addressed in the history. Almost 50% of all eye disorders presented to a family physician. Comprehensive treatment of such conditions can often be provided in the primary care setting. Patients with persistent or severe conditions, particularly those involving foreign bodies and corneal abrasions due to high-velocity injuries, should be referred for immediate care by an ophthalmologist. This review aims to review most prevalent eye complaints in primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia.