Public Knowledge and Practices Regarding Eye Injuries in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Objective: This research aimed to assess the level of public knowledge and practice regarding eye injuries in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design to assess eye injury knowledge and practice in Saudi Arabia from February 2024 to March 2024. A convenience sample of 614 adults was recruited online from ophthalmology clinics. A structured questionnaire evaluated demographics, knowledge of various eye injuries and response practice. Results: Most of the participants were females (63.4%) and aged 40–60 years (42.0%). Knowledge of eye injuries varied among the participants. Most participants recognised serious signs such as persistent pain (over 69%), torn eyelids (71.3%) and the presence of blood in the eye (73.1%). A considerable proportion recognised abnormalities such as unequal eye movement (57.7%) and changes in pupil shape (53.1%) as indicative of potential injury. In addition, females exhibited better knowledge regarding scratched eyes as compared to males (76.4% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.002). Moreover, age was found to be associated with differences in knowledge levels regarding scratched eyes ( P = 0.027), cuts or punctures in the eye ( P = 0.006) and chemical injury ( P = 0.010). Conclusion: This study recognised clear disparities in the answers related to some aspects. Despite many participants correctly identifying the symptoms and proper measures for ocular injuries, wrong practices and lack of awareness have been observed in a considerable number of participants.