Background. Globally, computer vision syndrome is the most common eye problem which is associated with prolonged exposure to a computer. It has a great socioeconomic impact on the users due to its effect on job performance. Recently, many people in the world, including our country Ethiopia, especially bank workers, are spending most of their time in front of a computer screen to facilitate their work. Since it is assumed that knowledge is pertinent to prevent computer vision syndrome, this study was aimed at assessing the understanding of bank workers towards computer vision syndrome. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 248 bank workers. The study participants were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from the bank workers. The data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 21 software. Results. A total of 248 bank workers completed the questionnaire fully, which was a response rate of 93.5% ( ). Among them, 155 (66.20%) were males and the majority of the respondents were in the age group of 20-39 years (223, 95.3%). The study revealed that from 234 respondents, 211 (90.20%) were aware of computer vision syndrome, while 26.9% of them had a good knowledge about the disorder. Majority of the respondents (40, 17.1%) cited mass media as a source of information. Conclusion. Even though the majority of computer-using bank workers heard of computer vision syndrome, it was recognized that only a small portion of the participants had good knowledge.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of use of eye care service and associated factors among adult diabetic patients attending diabetic clinics in two referral hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample size of 546 at Dessie and Debre-Birhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals from July 06 to August 14/2020. Systematic random sampling with a sampling fraction of 2 was employed to select study participants at outpatient departments in diabetic clinics. A pre-tested structured questionnaire, checklist, and visual acuity chart were used to collect the data. The collected data were entered into EPI-data version 4.4 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify the possible factors associated with the outcome variable, and the strength of association was expressed using an adjusted odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval. Variables with p-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 531 adult patients with diabetes participated with a response rate of 97.3%. In this study, the proportion of use of eye care service within the past 1 year was 31.5% (95% CI: 27.5, 35.4). Age from 40 to 64 years (AOR=2.86, 95% CI; 1.43,5.70) and > 65 years (AOR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.32,7.50), duration of diabetes 6– 10 years (AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.69) and > 11 years (AOR=2.93, 95% CI: 1.51, 5.69), presence of visual symptoms (AOR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.56, 6.18), good attitude on the need of a regular eye checkup (AOR=2.87, 95% CI: 1.68, 4.94), and good knowledge about diabetic ocular complication (AOR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.94) were positively associated with the use of eye care service. Conclusion: The proportion of use of eye care service among adult diabetic patients was low. The use of eye care service was significantly and independently associated with older age, longer duration of diabetes, presence of visual symptoms, good attitude on the need of a regular eye checkup, and good knowledge about diabetic ocular complication. We recommend that the patients with diabetes should be taught about diabetic ocular complications and the importance of regular eye check-ups by health professionals to increase utilization of eye care services by patients with diabetes.

Introduction. Low vision is a worldwide health problem in both developing and developed countries. A national survey of low vision and blindness in Ethiopia showed that the prevalence of low vision was 3.7% and that of blindness was 1.6%, whereas there is no evidence in the study area. Purpose. The study was aimed to assess the proportion and associated factors of low vision at the University of Gondar tertiary eye care and training center. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 727 study participants with a systematic random sampling technique from April 18 to May 16, 2019. Data were collected through the use of a structural questionnaire and physical eye examination. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7, and analysis was performed by using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. The binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with low vision, and variables with a P value of <0.05 in a multivariable binary logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Results. A total of 715 study participants have participated in this study with a mean age of 49.39 ± 19.93 years. The prevalence of low vision was 35.7% (95% CI: 32.3, 39.3). Being female (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.28), no formal educational level (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.25, 4.02), history of cataract surgery (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.53, 4.36), and age ≥ 70 years (AOR: 3.96; 95% CI: 2.21, 7.10) were significantly associated with low vision. Conclusion and Recommendation. The prevalence of low vision found in this study was high as compared with the national and global magnitude. Older age, being female, previous history of cataract surgery, and no formal education were independently and significantly associated with low vision. Cataract and uncorrected refractive errors were identified as the main causes of low vision. Therefore, it requires a plan to provide an eye care education to the community, increasing the quality of cataract surgery and refractive service for the community in the catchment area.

Introduction: Refractive error (RE) is the main cause of visual impairment and blindness in the world. Lack of knowledge and unfavorable attitude of refractive error can have long-term consequences and dramatic effects in children and adults, such as loss of educational and employment opportunities, loss of economic gain for individuals, families, and societies, and impaired quality of life. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of refractive error among public high school students in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 390 public high school students. Those participants were selected by applying a systematic random sampling technique with an interval of 4. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The collected data were entered into Epi Info version 7.0 and exported into SPSS version 20 for analysis. Results were described using tables and text. Results: A total of 390 study participants were included in this study with a 92.4% response rate. The overall proportion of good knowledge and a favorable attitude towards a refractive error were 53.8% and 52.1%, respectively. From the study participants, 38.7%, 41.7%, and 64.1% did not know the definition, the risk factors, and the symptoms of refractive error, respectively. Moreover, about 31.3% of the participants believed that wearing spectacle could damage their eyes, whereas 44.1% of the participants agreed with the need for spectacle correction for young people with RE. Conclusion: The proportion of good knowledge and a favorable attitude towards refractive error among public high school students were fair. We recommended that eye care practitioners be committed to increasing the knowledge and attitude of students towards refractive error through eye health education to reduce visual impairment due to refractive error.

Introduction: Symptomatic dry eye disease is a multifactorial ocular surface condition caused by disruption of the precorneal tear film and is a common clinical finding in diabetic patients. However, there was no study on the prevalence and associated factors of symptomatic dry eye disease among diabetic patients in Ethiopia or in the study area. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of symptomatic dry eye disease among adult diabetic patients in Adare General Hospital, Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia, in 2023. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 493 adult diabetic patients who were selected using systematic random sampling, from April 23 to June 8, 2023. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview using an ocular surface disease index questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors potentially associated with symptomatic dry eye disease. Variable with a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 488 subjects participated in this study with a response rate of 99%. The prevalence of symptomatic dry eye disease was 34.8% (95% CI = 30.6– 39.1). College and university educational status (AOR = 5.88, 95% CI = 2.25– 15.38), government employed (AOR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.05– 4.68), use of visual display unit > 5 hours (AOR = 4.41, 95% CI = 1.51– 12.87), duration of diabetes ≥ 11 years (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.28– 9.90), poor glycemic control (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.21– 3.75), allergic conjunctivitis (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.12– 3.54), and debris in the tear film (AOR = 3.63, 95% CI = 1.53– 8.61) were positively associated with symptomatic dry eye disease. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of symptomatic dry eye disease. Higher educational status, government employed, use of visual display unit, longer duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control, allergic conjunctivitis, and tear film debris were significantly associated with symptomatic dry eye disease. Breaks in screen use, good glycemic control, and treatment of ocular morbidities such as allergic conjunctivitis and debris in the tear film were recommended for all diabetic patients.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of visually significant cataract and associated factors among older people attending community ophthalmic services in the central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted a community outreach-based cross-sectional study among adults aged ≥40 years in the central Gondar Zone from 30 May to 15 June 2021. We used systematic random sampling to select study participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and ocular examinations were performed and the data recorded. We applied binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with visually significant cataract. Results: A total of 821 participants were included, with median age 57 years. The prevalence of visually significant cataract was 29.1% (95% CI: 26.1–32.0). Age ≥80 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 16.9; 95% CI: 7.5–38.4), rural residence (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.02–2.7), unmarried status (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2–3.2), illiteracy (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4–6.1), unemployed status (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1–2.7), and sunlight exposure ≥5 hours per day (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.04–2.4) were significantly associated with visually significant cataract. Conclusion: In this study, visually significant cataract was found to be high, which requires immediate public health intervention.