What the Canadian public (mis)understands about eyes and eye care

ABSTRACT

Clinical relevance

Inadequate public knowledge about eyes and eye care poses avoidable risks to vision-related quality of life.

Background

This study of eye care knowledge among Canadians extends earlier findings from focus groups.

Methods

Perceptions about eyes and eye care were sought using a 21-item online survey and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria were living in Canada and being at least 18-years old; eye care professionals and staff were excluded. Response frequencies were converted to percentages, with eye condition items analysed according to ‘expected’ or ‘unexpected’ eye impacts. Proportions selecting these impacts or ‘unsure’ were determined.

Results

There were 424 respondents: 83.0% aged 20-65 years and 69.6% female. Mismatches existed between perceived recommendations and behaviours for booking eye exams: within two years (86.7% vs. 68.4%) and symptom-driven (3.3% vs. 13.0%). First eye exams after age one year were deemed appropriate by 43.6%. Few respondents associated glaucoma with no symptoms (6.0%) or amblyopia with blurred vision (13.5%). A notable proportion incorrectly related tunnel vision with age-related macular degeneration (AMD, 36.8%) and cataract (21.9%). Identifying all ‘expected’ responses was unlikely for glaucoma (1.9%), amblyopia (6.7%), and cataract (12.0%). Most respondents identified no ‘expected’ effects for glaucoma (63.8%) and AMD (46.2%) and some ‘expected’ effects for cataract (59.5%) and amblyopia (72.6%). Selecting ‘unsure’ was 9-10 times more common among respondents choosing no ‘expected’ impacts than those choosing some. Awareness of thyroid-associated eye disease was lowest (32.4%) of seven conditions. Respondents were most likely to consult optometrists for routine eye exams, eye disease, diabetes eye checks and blurred vision but family physicians for red eyes and sore eyes. Respondents typically paid for their eye exams and eyewear but wanted government to pay.

Conclusion

Vision-threatening knowledge gaps and misinformation about eyes and eye care among Canadian respondents highlight the need for accessible, targeted public education.

KEYWORDS:

• Canadian public
• eye care
• eye health literacy
• sight risk

Acknowledgements

This research received no specific external funding. Francis Gerard Mozo provided data analysis; his work placement was paid by the University of Waterloo’s Office of the Provost. The study was posted on Twitter by a member of the research team (LWC) and on Facebook® by the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (https://core.uwaterloo.ca).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.