Ocular Diseases: Public Knowledge and Awareness in Malaysia

Abstract

Eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye syndrome and conjunctivitis are the common medical problems that can affect the population at any age and may lead to visual impairment or blindness if untreated or not treated at early stages. Symptoms for eye diseases usually start with blurring vision, itchy eyes, red eyes or pain in the eyes. Globally, these diseases have become a major public health concern in many developing countries and Malaysia is of no exception. Public knowledge and awareness about eye diseases are important as it play a pivotal role in the prevention and control of eye disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge and awareness about eye diseases and its relationship with socio-demographic factors among the public in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 303 participants (online) via a pre-validated questionnaire that includes socio-demographic information and 21 questions on knowledge of eye diseases. The knowledge of eye diseases was scored and divided into poor (0-7), fair (8-14), and good knowledge (15-21), respectively. The mean ( SD) knowledge score of the participants was 11.54  3.75. The levels of good, fair, and poor knowledge were 23%, 61.7%, and 15.3%, respectively. The results showed that participants who were students are found to be significantly associated with a good knowledge score (p<0.05). This study has revealed that the public in Malaysia has moderate knowledge about eye diseases, with a very small proportion having poor knowledge. However, imparting training and awareness by the health experts including both optometrist and ophthalmologist may play a pivotal role in creating knowledge about eye diseases among the public, especially among older people. In conclusion, early education on eye health and regular eye screening are believed to have a positive impact in preventing visual impairment.