Magnitude and Determinants of Awareness and Practice Regarding Refractive Surgeries Including Laser Procedures among Saudi Adults

Objectives: To present the magnitude and determinants of awareness about refractive surgery among the adult Saudi population and recommend improving their knowledge. Methods: This used a web-based cross-sectional survey of the adult Saudi population held in 2020–2021. Eleven close-ended questions related to indication, contraindication, preparation, and surgery procedures were asked. The awareness score was grouped as 6 or more for good and 5 or less for poor. Demographic and ocular parameters were associated with the outcomes. Results: Among the 6,746 participants, 6,580 (97.5%) completed the survey. The participation of younger women and older man was more than their proportions in the population, and older women participated less than their proportion in the population. Good awareness about refractive surgery was noted in 1,165 (17.7%; 95% confidence interval 16.2; 18.0) adult Saudi participants. Women (P<0.001), 15–29 ages group (P<0.001), residents in the central region (P <0.001), health professionals (P <0.001), health sector students (P = 0.0004), people with myopia (P <0.001), and history of refractive surgery (P <0.001) were associated with good awareness. Women (Adjusted Odd’s Ratio = 1.5, P <0.001), health sector students (Adj OR 1.57, P <0.001), and residents in the central region (Adj OR = 1.27, P <0.001) were independent predictors of awareness. Information about contraindications for surgery was good in more than one-third of participants. Of the 535 participants who underwent operation in the past, 452 (84.5%) were satisfied with the refractive surgery. Conclusions: Awareness of refractive surgeries was low in the adult Saudi population. Targeted counseling is recommended to improve the knowledge and acceptance of refractive surgery. KEYWORDS: Refractive surgeries, Awareness, web-based survey, LASIK, Refractive errors