Amblyopia is a reduced best-corrected visual acuity of one or both eyes that cannot be attributed to a structural abnormality; it is a functional reduction in the vision of an eye caused by disuse during a critical period of visual development. It is considered the leading cause of visual defects in children. With early diagnosis and treatment, children with amblyopia can significantly improve their vision. However, if it is neglected and not treated during childhood, unfortunately, it permanently decreases vision. Therefore, prevention, detection, and treatment largely depend on parents. This article explores parents’ perspectives on amblyopia and routine examination of their children’s eyes. A cross-sectional study used an electronic questionnaire consisting of five main sections to assess the level of awareness of amblyopia among parents. As a result, a total of 325 participants were included in our analysis. 209 (64.3%) were mothers, and 116 (35/7%) were fathers. The age groups were 35–50 years of age (61.5%), 20–34 years (23.4%), and older than 50 years (15%). Participants with a history of amblyopia numbered 23 (7.1%), and 39 had an amblyopic child (12%). A good awareness level of amblyopia among parents was found in only 10 (3%) participants, a fair awareness level in 202 (62%), and 113 (35%) participants were classified as having a poor awareness level of amblyopia. Only 13.8% of the parents took their children for yearly routine eye exams, while the majority (72%) took their children only if they had a complaint, and 14.2% took them for eye checkups only before school entry. In conclusion, parents’ awareness of amblyopia in Tabuk City, KSA, was low. In addition, a limited proportion of parents reported consistently taking their children for routine eye exams. Therefore, raising awareness should be considered in public education regarding the disease.

PURPOSE: Botulinum toxin (Botox) therapy is a well-known option for strabismus management and is often used in managing esotropia. Exotropia is also a common type of strabismus; however, the effectiveness of Botox in improving exotropia is still ambiguous. In this study, we report our experience in using Botox to manage the various types of exotropia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Medical records of patients with exotropia who received Botox from 2014 to March 2020 were reviewed. The main success indicator was a remaining angle of less than 10 prism diopters (PD). RESULTS: A total of 97 cases were reviewed, with 57 (58.8%) males and 40 (41.2%) females. The age ranged from 2 months to 40 years. The most prevalent diagnosis was sensory exotropia. Overall, 28 patients (28.9 %) and 49 patients (50.5%) achieved an angle of deviation within 10 PD and within 20 PD, respectively. Female patients had a better response to Botox than males, with 32.5% of them achieving an angle of deviation within 10 PD and 60% achieving an angle of deviation within 20 PD. We found that the change in the angle of deviation increased as the Botox dose was increased. CONCLUSION: Botox represents a possible safe alternative to surgery in the management of some exotropia types. The success rate differs by type, with basic exotropia scoring the highest. The presence of poor vision and amblyopia leads to a significantly lower success rate.

Background Identifying and treating visual impairment in young children is crucial because it has a lasting impact on adults. Estimates put the number of children with vision impairment in the world at 19 million, compared to the estimated 1.4 million who are blind. To battle children’s vision issues, studies on children’s eye disorders have highlighted the significance of raising awareness among parents and educators. So, according to various authors, the awareness, perception, and attitudes of parents towards children’s eye diseases in Saudi Arabia need more research. Aims To determines the prevalence of children’s eye diseases among children aged under 18 years old, in Saudi Arabia, as well as assess the awareness, perception, and attitudes of parents towards children’s eye diseases in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional web survey with a sample (n = 1276) of parents of children in Saudi Arabia was carried out from November 2023 to August 2024 . Results This study highlights significant gaps in parental awareness of Childhood Eye Diseases (CED), with 46.5% of parents demonstrating intermediate awareness and 29.4% exhibiting poor awareness. Refractive errors were the most commonly reported eye issue, affecting 44.23% of children, while congenital glaucoma and cataracts were less common. Factors positively correlating with higher awareness included marital status, gender, age (30-50 years), education level (bachelor’s degree), and employment status. Notably, more than half of the children had never undergone an eye exam. Conclusion This study highlights significant gaps in parental awareness of CED, with 46.5% of parents demonstrating intermediate awareness and 29.4% showing poor awareness. Factors such as marital status, gender, age (30-50 years), education level (bachelor’s degree), and employment status positively correlate with higher awareness. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to improve knowledge and encourage proactive eye health care among parents.

Background: Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) topical eye medications is prevalent and poses potential risks such as adverse effects, drug-drug interactions, and improper treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding the use of OTC topical eye medications. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an online Arabic questionnaire. A mixture of convenience and snowball sampling methods was employed to recruit participants. The target population included Saudi residents aged 18 and older. A total of 601 participants, comprising 324 males (53.9%) and 277 females (46.1%), were included. The questionnaire was retested for reliability before distribution. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests used to assess relationships between variables. Results: The study found that 124 participants (91.9%) who used OTC eye drops once reported no adverse effects, while 11 participants (8.1%) experienced side effects. Among those who used OTC eye drops more frequently, 215 participants (98.6%) reported no adverse events, while three participants (1.4%) experienced adverse effects. A statistically significant relationship was found between the frequency of OTC eye drop use and the occurrence of side effects (p=0.005). Awareness of the risks associated with OTC eye drop misuse was generally low. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for targeted public health initiatives in Saudi Arabia to educate individuals about the safe and appropriate use of OTC topical eye medications and the potential risks of misuse.

Nystagmus is an eye movement disorder affecting both children and adults and exists in two main types; congenital and acquired. Botulinum toxin (botox) is a neurotoxin protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It prohibits the production of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter from endings of axons at the neuromuscular junction, therefore inducing flaccid paralysis. Botulinum toxin has been utilized as a therapeutic agent in both congenital and acquired nystagmus. This review aims t

Glaucoma following pediatric cataract surgery is a sight-threatening complication with reported incidence rates of 3.3–25.5%, influenced by surgical