Accepted for/Published in: Online Journal of Public Health Informatics
Date Submitted: Aug 11, 2025
Date Accepted: Sep 16, 2026
The prevalence of ophthalmic symptoms among adults in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences: : A cross-sectional survey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Eye diseases are prevalent conditions around the world. Over 2 billion individuals globally suffer from visual impairments. However, reducing the worldwide burden of eye disorders requires increased public awareness of prevalent eye diseases.
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of ophthalmic symptoms and associated factors among adults studying or working at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults studying or working at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on ophthalmic symptoms experienced within the past 30 days, along with demographic characteristics and other relevant factors. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of these symptoms and to identify associated factors.
Results:
The presence of at least one ophthalmic symptom was reported by 74% (184/249) of the respondents. The most prevalent symptoms included stinging eyes (31%; 76/249) and eye pain (29%; 71/249). Females reported a significantly higher prevalence of several symptoms, including stinging eyes, bloodshot eyes, swelling around the eyes, dark spots in the central field of view, foreign body sensation, and near vision difficulty. Multivariable analysis revealed that gender and the use of eye lubricants were the most significant predictors of ophthalmic symptoms (AOR 0.386; 95%CI 0.19-0.76; P<.001). Specifically, females had three times higher odds of experiencing at least one ophthalmic symptom compared to males. Additionally, participants who used eye lubricants were 70% less likely to report ophthalmic symptoms (AOR 0.31; 95%CI 0.15-0.6; P<.001).
Conclusions:
Ophthalmic symptoms are highly prevalent among adults in Saudi Arabia. Gender and the use of eye lubricants are key factors associated with these symptoms. These findings underscore the need for increased awareness, targeted interventions, and promotion of eye lubricant use to reduce the burden of ophthalmic symptoms in this population.
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