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. 2021 Oct 20;35(4):304-309.
doi: 10.4103/sjopt.sjopt_25_20. eCollection 2021 Oct-Dec.

Assessing public awareness of daily eyelid hygiene habits in Saudi Arabia: An online survey study

Manal A Alhamazani  1 , Maram S Alnabri  1 , Meshael N Alreshidi  2 , Hamad M Alsulaiman  3 , Diego Strianese  3   4 , Rawan N Althaqib  3
Affiliations

Assessing public awareness of daily eyelid hygiene habits in Saudi Arabia: An online survey study

Manal A Alhamazani et al. Saudi J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: Incidences of ocular conditions, including meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), blepharitis, and dry eye have been increasing globally. Eyelid hygiene is key to maintaining ocular surface health and improving ocular symptoms. This study investigated the awareness of eyelid hygiene among the Saudi population.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 2020 and May 2020 across all regions of Saudi Arabia through the distribution of an electronic self-administered questionnaire among the Saudi population.

Results: A total of 1102 responses were received (women, 76.3%; men, 23.7%). Only 33.2% respondents reported consciously washing their eyelids, while 70.1% had never heard about MGD; however, most of the respondents (93.2%) had heard about dry eye. Based on the questionnaire results, the Saudi population had suboptimal (18.4%) level of awareness of eyelid hygiene. At least one ocular symptom was reported by 98.1% of the respondents.

Conclusion: The level of awareness of eyelid hygiene in Saudi Arabia was found to be suboptimal, particularly among patients with MGD and dry eyes. Poor knowledge about the benefits of daily eyelid hygiene was the primary barrier to its practice. We recommend that ophthalmologists raise awareness of good eyelid hygiene among patients with MGD and eye dryness. Despite the current findings, further studies and evidence are required before recommending daily eyelid hygiene practices in the general population, including those without clinical symptoms of MGD or eye dryness.

Keywords: Awareness; Saudi Arabia; dry eye; eyelid hygiene; meibomian gland dysfunction; ocular surface disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Habits of facial, eyelid, and dental hygiene
Figure 2
Figure 2
Knowledge of dry eye disease, meibomian gland dysfunction, and eyelid hygiene
Figure 3
Figure 3
Eyecare status
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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