Awareness and Hygiene Practices Among Contact Lens Wearers: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background More than 150 million individuals worldwide wear contact lenses (CL) for therapeutic as well as cosmetic purposes. Researchers have linked failure to adhere to CL care instructions with outbreaks of serious eye infections. In the current study, we assess the consequences of inadequate cleanliness as well as awareness of and adherence to appropriate CL hygiene. Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Jazan region, southwest Saudi Arabia, during the period between October 2022 and April 2023. Results Out of a total of 718 participants, 391 (54.4%) were wearing CL. Of these, 318 (81.33%) CL wearers were female, while 73 (18.67%) were male. Among the CL wearers, 196 (50%) were aged 24 and younger. The overall knowledge was higher in females, with 320 (74.6%) having a high level of knowledge, compared to 195 (67.5%) males (p-value = 0.044). The level of knowledge was higher in those who had had an eye examination before using CL. Regarding practice, 202 (63.5%) females demonstrated better practices, while only 32 (43.8%) males did (p-value = 0.002). Variations in the adequacy of practice regarding CLs were identified according to the duration of CL use and the risk of suffering from eye dryness (p-values <0.05). Conclusions The participants' overall knowledge and practices were good. This should be encouraged by performing an eye examination before wearing CL and demonstrating good wearing habits in terms of hygiene behavior.

Ocular Complications after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic affects various populations worldwide. The discovery of vaccinations was necessary for the prevention and elimination of the disease. Despite the high importance of these vaccinations, they may cause some complications, such as ocular complications. This study aims to draw attention to the possible complications of the vaccination and highlight its importance. Materials and Methods: Systematic review of the literature from January 2021 to January 2023. A total of 20 published articles were included and reported cases of ocular complications in patients who received COVID-19 vaccines. Results: A total of 243 patients with verified ocular complications following the COVID-19 vaccination were included, ranging in age from 18 to 84 years. The most common ocular complications reported in the current study were ocular inflammatory complications, which represented 47.3%, followed by optic neuritis (24.3%). Retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, acute macular neuroretinopathy, and paracentral acute middle maculopathy represented 10.7%. Herpetic ocular infections and herpetic eye disease (14%). Nearly half (42%) of the patients with ocular problems received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination. Conclusions: Despite the high importance of the COVID-19 vaccination, it was found that it is associated with the occurrence of some ocular complications. Future projects should come with more extensive prospective studies to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms and risk factors associated with ocular complications following COVID-19 vaccination, thereby enhancing our understanding and guiding appropriate management strategies.

Awareness and Knowledge of Glaucoma and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Adult Population in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Glaucoma can be considered a heterogeneous group of diseases with characteristic progressive optic neuropathy, which causes the development of visual field dysfunctions and irreversible blindness. Glaucoma is the most prevalent cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Aim This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and its associated risk factors among the adult population in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, in 2022. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 participants aged 40 years and above in the Jazan region. A convenience sampling technique was adopted to obtain the target sample size. Data were collected using a self-administered electronic questionnaire on Google Forms. Results A majority (73.1%) of the 387 respondents to the questionnaire were in the age group of 40-50 years, with the average age being 47.43 years. No statistically significant difference was found between different age groups' level of knowledge (p=0.769). In addition, the difference between levels of knowledge based on participants' residence was also statistically insignificant (p=0.387). Of the participants who were not diagnosed with glaucoma, 55% had poor knowledge of glaucoma; however, only 3.10% of the participants diagnosed with glaucoma had poor knowledge of the condition. Consequently, there was a statistically significant difference between participants' levels of knowledge based on their diagnosis of glaucoma (p=0.04). Conclusion The study revealed low knowledge and awareness levels regarding glaucoma among adults aged 40 years and above in the Jazan region.

Dry Eye Symptoms in Jazan University Lecturers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).

Background Dry eye disease (DED) is a disease of the ocular surface charac-terized by instability of the tear film, which causes ocular surface inflamma-tion and damage that leads to ocular symptoms, discomfort, and visual disturbance. Dry eye is a common ocular condition and a major reason for ophthalmologist visits. Compulsory e-learning has arisen in colleges and schools with the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic as a tool for new teaching and learning. DED is an emerging threat to public health and is directly proportional to digital screen viewing length. DED diagnosis flowchart begins with history-taking of associated risk factors and a screening test by Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Therefore, we aim to assess the prevalence and the severity of DED among Jazan University lecturers and to identify the associated risk factors. Methods  A total of 150 participants were recruited for this descriptive, observational study. Participants completed an online questionnaire that contained questions about sociodemographics, electronic devices they used, the average number of hours of use in a day as well as the distance and posture while reading, and factors that may influence visual symptoms such as the use of glasses, frequent changes in glasses prescription and DED symptoms. Results The results showed that the prevalence of DED was high, with 23% of participants having mild DED, 12% having moderate DED, and 29% having severe DED. DED was associated with a number of sociodemographic and clinical factors, including younger age, female gender, occupation as a lecturer, and use of digital devices. Conclusion This study highlights the need to develop strategies to prevent and control DED among high-risk groups, such as university lecturers. Future research should focus on identifying more effective ways to prevent DED and to improve the management of DED symptoms.

Assessment of Ophthalmology Teaching and its Impact on the Choice of Future Specialties Among Medical Students of Jazan University.

BACKGROUND: Ophthalmology is essential for primary and specialty care physicians, as eye complaints are common, accounting for a sizable proportion of general practice consultations and emergency department visits. Fundamental ophthalmology knowledge is also relevant to other specialty fields. Thus, medical schools must provide effective undergraduate curricula to teach students about salient points, visual examination skills, emergency recognition, and referral indications. The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) has set guidelines that medical students should imbibe to become proficient in ophthalmology. However, there have been no recent investigations evaluating undergraduate ophthalmology education at Jazan University's Faculty of Medicine. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the curriculum at Jazan University to the ICO's requirements for undergraduate medical education. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with both male and female student participants enrolled in an ophthalmology course at Jazan University's Faculty of Medicine. Following IRB approval, the questionnaire was distributed on social media to assess if Jazan University's undergraduate ophthalmology curriculum complies with ICO standards. RESULTS: The study included a diverse sample of 322 participants, predominantly consisting of female students (n=178, 55.3%). The participants' ages ranged from 22 to 36 years, with the majority falling within the 24-25 year age range (n=173, 53.7%). Regarding academic performance, (n=117, 36.3%) of participants had a GPA of less than 4, while 66 (20.5%) had a GPA between 4.76 and 5.00. Among the respondents, 31 (9.6%) indicated having no exposure to ophthalmology, while 117 (36.3%) felt they had insufficient exposure. A considerable percentage of participants expressed competence in various areas, such as obtaining ocular history (n=113, 35.1%), testing visual acuity (n=201, 62.4%), and examining extraocular motility (n=201, 62.4%). In total, 98 participants (30.4%) expressed an interest in ophthalmology, while the majority (n=224, 69.6%) were not interested. CONCLUSION: Essential improvements include increasing hands-on clinical experience, small-group learning, exposure across academic years, and early mentorship. Developing competency-based curricula aligned with ICO guidelines could significantly strengthen education. Better training quality and exposure will equip students with the necessary skills, boost confidence, and potentially expand the ophthalmology workforce.

Parents' Awareness, Knowledge, and Perception of Amblyopia in Children: A Study in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background Amblyopia is a vision disorder that results from a development problem in the brain rather than a neurological disease in the eye. The condition causes reduced visual acuity in one or both eyes due to the brain's inability to process inputs, rather than a structural abnormality. This study aims to assess parents' awareness, knowledge, and perception of amblyopia in their children in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that used an electronic questionnaire consisting of five main sections to assess the level of awareness of amblyopia among parents in the Jazan region. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v.25, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was utilized to input the data. The degree to which participants' level of awareness was related to variables such as age, gender, and educational level was assessed through the chi-square test (χ2), and any values that scored p-values under 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Results The analysis included 572 participants, 395 mothers (69.0%) and 177 fathers (31.0%). The age groups of the participants were divided into 36-45 years (38.0%), 26-35 years (36.0%), and above 46 years (17.0%). Out of the total, 36 participants (6.0%) had a history of amblyopia, and 73 (13.0%) had a child who suffered from amblyopia. The findings showed that only 18 participants (3.1%) had a good awareness of amblyopia, while 242 (42.3%) had a fair level of awareness. Most participants, 312 (54.5%), were classified as having a poor awareness level of amblyopia. Parents with postgraduate degrees, those with prior awareness, and parents whose children had eye diseases demonstrated higher levels of good awareness. However, gender, age, and residency did not have significant associations with awareness levels. Conclusion While parents must be involved in managing amblyopia, our research found that more than half of the parents surveyed had a limited understanding of various aspects of the disease, which can cause permanent damage to their child's vision. Therefore, we recommend implementing health education programs to increase awareness and knowledge about amblyopia in Jazan.

Glaucoma among Saudi Arabian population: a scoping review.

Despite its high risk of leading to permanent visual dysfunction, glaucoma remains underdiagnosed in primary care settings. About 11% of glaucoma patients in Saudi Arabia end up with bilateral blindness. This scoping review investigates and presents results on the glaucoma profile, including its prevalence, knowledge, attitude, and practice of Saudi Arabians towards the disease. An online search using four databases through online software (www.rayyan.ai) was performed to extract the relevant articles. Out of 76 records, 21 articles were eligible for the analysis. All included studies were published between the years 2014 and 2022. Most studies were in Riyadh city, followed by Jeddah. All participants (n=11 388) were adults >18 years old, and male participants were generally higher than females. The findings showed poor knowledge of glaucoma among the general population, while the knowledge among glaucoma patients was acceptable. The attitude was positive, while the compliance and practice were fair. More educational programs about glaucoma, its risk to the eyes, and the overall quality of life are highly recommended.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis to Assess the Role of Atopy in Keratoconus Among Saudi Population.

Background: In cases of atopy, IgE antibodies are formed in reaction to certain environmental factors like house dust mites, pollen, or even food allergens. Some studies have shown an association between atopic diseases and keratoconus. This study aims to determine the prevalence of atopy and its associated factors among keratoconus patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the Jazan population attending ophthalmology clinics regardless of their sex. Data collection started in August 2020 and finished in mid-June 2021. The sample was selected using the convenience sampling technique, and the total sample size was 83 participants. Data were collected via a questionnaire-based interview that contained 46 questions in the Arabic language. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Family history is the leading predisposing factor for keratoconus (P < 0.001). Also, eye rubbing was a significant (P < 0.015) trigger for keratoconus. However, other factors, including demographic factors such as gender and atopic conditions, did not have any significant association. Conclusion: A combination of genetic and environmental factors is the leading cause of the development of keratoconus; however, family history is the most influential factor, followed by eye rubbing.

Sertraline-Induced Optic Nerve Dysfunction.

This case report describes a rare case of Sertraline-induced optic nerve dysfunction with optic disc edema (papilledema) in both eyes in a 32-year-old male who was on chronic sertraline therapy for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and three panic episodes. The patient was presented to our ophthalmology clinic with two bubbles with dark borders in both eyes on the far side for a few months. An optical coherence tomography showed that retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 98 microns in OD (right eye) and 105 microns in OS (left eye). Another optical coherence tomography findings in both eyes were the elevation of superior and inferior quadrants. Optical coherence tomography findings supported the diagnosis of optic disc edema (papilledema) in both eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed symmetrical enlargement in the optic nerves (8 mm in diameter at its thickest point). However, abnormal enhancement was absent, excluding optic neuritis. Sertraline was discontinued and replaced by fluoxetine 20 mg. Five months later, papilledema was resolved. On follow-up one month later, the patient continued to improve in terms of symptoms and test results. The case presented demonstrates a rare association between sertraline use and optic nerve dysfunction. Adding to the increasing number of patients using sertraline worldwide, further research is warranted to investigate the incidence of this association and explore possible pathologic mechanisms.

Thrombosis of intraorbital arterio-venous fistula.

A 65-year-old male patient presented with a rare arterio-venous fistula (AFV). The symptoms included congestion, decreased visual acuity, and proptosis. Further investigation revealed a non-traumatic intra orbital AFV with ophthalmic vein thrombosis. The management strategy was craniotomy and the prescription of anticoagulants. The patient recovered 2 months after surgery demonstrating successful resolution of his presenting symptoms and an alternative approach to complicated cases of embolization.

Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome among School-Age Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Computer vision syndrome (CVS) can be described as ocular-related symptoms that result from prolonged exposure and use of computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices with digital displays. The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CVS among school-age children, the associated signs, risk factors, and the association between the disease before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The targeted population was school-going children aged 6 to 18 in the Jazan region in the Southwest of Saudi Arabia. A sample of 440 participants was selected to represent the population under study. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Sociodemographic characteristics were recorded, such as age, gender, education level, parents' education, occupation, frequency, and intensity of eye symptoms if present. Results: Most of the participants were adolescents between 16 and 18 and at a high-school education level. According to the total symptoms score, the CVS prevalence was 35.4%. Prevalence of CVS significantly affects age, gender, and school level (p < 0.05 for all). A similar significant association was reported between the symptoms experienced before and during COVID-19 and the CVS (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A total of 407 adolescents aged 16−18 responded to the questionnaire (response rate of 92.5%; 407 out of 440). The study estimated the prevalence of CVS among school-going children in Jazan to be low. The main signs associated with CVS included headache, tearing, itchiness, blurred vision, eye redness, eye pain, and dryness. The attitude of children toward their health condition during the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of CVS have a significant relationship.

Prevalence of Asthenopia and Its Relationship with Electronic Screen Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To assess the connection between the prevalence of asthenopia and the use of electronic devices in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and Methods: Asthenopia prevalence and its connection to electronic screens during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated in an analytical, cross-sectional investigation among the Jazan population. The sample population included 784 participants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pre-tested, organized, and self-administered questionnaire was used as the study method. Social media invitations were used to contact the sample group. Results: Of the 784 participants, 587 (74.96%) had asthenopia symptoms after using digital devices at the end of the day. A total of 56.30% used digital gadgets for > 6 hours each day, whereas 55.36% spent <2 hours per day reading papers or books or writing. Daily usage of digital gadgets did not significantly differ from asthenopia (p=0.46), as well as reading papers, books, or writing and asthenopia (p=0.098). A total of 45.92% of the study population maintained digital devices/books at a distance <25 cm, which was significantly associated with symptoms of asthenopia (p=0.048). Furthermore, 90.10% of the sample population used laptops, cellphones, and iPads before going to bed or after turning off lights. A total of 63.52% preferred using devices while lying in bed. There was no positive link between asthenopia symptoms and cellphone usage at bedtime or after turning off lights (p=0.028). Conclusion: Digital technology is used by people of all ages for a wide range of daily activities, including education, employment, business, and recreation. We concluded that this group had a high prevalence of asthenopia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high frequency of asthenopia emphasizes the significance of conducting public awareness campaigns concerning asthenopia symptoms and prevention methods.

Neonatal Healthcare-Associated Conjunctivitis: A Descriptive Study from Saudi Arabia.

Healthcare-associated conjunctivitis (HAC) has been associated with serious ophthalmological complications in neonates, including blindness. This three-year retrospective, descriptive study was conducted between 2019 and 2021 to determine the most common bacteria associated with neonatal HAC at a tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia. The inclusion criteria were defined based on the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) guidelines for the diagnosis of neonatal HAC. When HAC was clinically suspected, conjunctival swabs were obtained from neonates and sent to the microbiology lab following standard protocols. A univariate analysis was conducted on the included samples. A total of 79 cases met our inclusion criteria and were retrospectively studied. A descriptive analysis showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the leading cause of HAC, with 25% (20 cases), followed by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia (11.5% for each). About 9% of the analyzed cases were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Orogastric feeding was the most commonly (94%) associated factor with HAC, followed by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and preterm birth, which were found in 70% and 64% of the cases, respectively. To conclude, HAC is an alarming healthcare problem, and bacteria, including Gram-negative bacteria, are common causes. Thus, physician awareness, effective communication with microbiologists, and the implementation of infection control recommendations, including hand hygiene, could minimize this problem and avoid the serious complications of HAC.

Keratoconus detected by corneal topography in patients seeking refractive surgery in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory, chronic, idiopathic, corneal disease characterized by thinning of the core or paracentral part of the cornea. In this study, we demonstrate the prevalence of keratoconus among patients seeking refractive surgery using laser vision correction (LVC) at the Department of Ophthalmology, Private Eye Center, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken with the data from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 in the ophthalmology department of Jazan city. This study included 1068 eyes of 534 patients of which 56.8% were men. The mean patient age was 28.5 (SD = 8.3) years. The analyst performed chi-square tests for the report. Prevalence was calculated at a 95% confidence interval at specified times in the year (CI). Results: The prevalence of manifest unilateral keratoconus was 3% and that of bilateral keratoconus was 18.72%; on the other hand prevalence rates of suspected unilateral KC was 16.48% and of bilateral KC 9.36%. Significant differences between eyes were noted and recorded. Conclusion: The occurrence and spread of this condition are on the rise in the city of Jazan and on the outskirts. Terminology: eyeball disorder (keratoconus), prevalence, risk factors, treatment of the disorder (vision).

Prevalence, knowledge, and perception about the use of herbal medicines jazan - Saudi Arabia.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, knowledge and perception of Jazan province residents about traditional herbal medication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done on 440 Saudi residents using an electronically distributed questionnaire. The questionnaire included 39 items divided into 4 parts. Data collected were about demographic characters, knowledge and perception about HM, and HM usage among participants. RESULTS: Most of the participants used HM for therapeutic purposes (80.9%) and (29.5%) believed that mixing herbs together led to more effective results. The participants agreed to a very high degree that inherited culture plays an important role in HM use, however (84.5%) of them never used herbs. The participants used herbs mostly for treatment of diabetes mellitus representing (37%) and hypertension (20.5%). Age, marital status, and the job of participants had a statistically significant effect on participants' views about HM. While, gender, educational level, income, place of residence and chronic diseases had no statistically significant effect. CONCLUSION: The highest percentage of the participants used HM for therapeutic purposes. Increasing awareness of Saudi population about instructions and restrictions when using HM is greatly needed.

Prevalence of Refractive Errors and its Associated Risk Factors among Medical Students of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study.

PURPOSE: Refractive errors (REs) are common and continue to increase globally, particularly myopia. Uncorrected REs are the second leading cause of preventable blindness and the most common cause of visual impairment. The main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of REs and to investigate its associated risk factors among medical students of the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of 447 medical students at Jazan University. Eye examination was conducted using an autorefractor test (Huvitz HRK-8000A Autorefractor Keratometer) to measure spherical refraction (emmetropia, myopia, and hyperopia) and cylindrical refraction (astigmatism). Factors associated with myopia and hyperopia were evaluated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of REs was 48.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] [44.2, 53.4]). The prevalence of REs among female medical students was 55.1% (95% CI [48.6, 61.5]), which was significantly higher than that among males (42.3%, 95% CI [36.0, 48.9]), with a P = 0.007. Of the 447 medical students examined, approximately one-third (33.8%) had myopia, 10.5% had astigmatism, and only 10.5% had hyperopia. The results of logistic regression indicated that females were 52% more myopic than males (odds ratios [OR] = 1.52, 95% CI [1.04, 2.22]), while participants with both parents having a history of REs were twofold more myopic than students with no family history of REs (OR = 2.01, 95% CI [1.2, 3.4]). A history of blurred vision also increases the risk of myopia by seven times (OR = 7.2, 95% CI [6.4, 11.3]). CONCLUSION: RE among medical students is a problem. Thus, it needs to be assessed carefully before students choose a specialty that may need very good near and far vision for postgraduate study.