Ophthalmology education and systemic disease integration in Syrian medical schools: a cross-sectional assessment of knowledge gaps

Ophthalmology plays a crucial role in medical practice by addressing vision impairment and detecting systemic diseases. However, ophthalmology education has declined globally despite the high prevalence of preventable blindness. A cross-sectional survey examined demographics, clinical experience, and training perspectives among Syrian fifth- and sixth-year medical students and ophthalmology residents in Syria. Data were collected over three months using Google Forms and analyzed with SPSS. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Among 500 medical trainees (age range 18-35 years, with balanced gender distribution), 281 participants (56.2%) reported limited clinical exposure to systemic diseases, while only 103 participants (20.6%) demonstrated high awareness of ocular manifestations. Participants most frequently recognized ocular manifestations of hypertension and diabetes. Awareness and diagnostic confidence increased significantly with age and clinical experience (p < 0.05). This study reveals significant gaps in trainees' understanding of ocular manifestations of systemic diseases. These findings emphasize the urgent need for improved ophthalmology education to enhance diagnostic and management skills.