Manuscript Title:

FACTORS PREVENTING FROM PERFORMING REFRACTIVE SURGERY IN UNAIZAH, QASSIM, SAUDI ARABIA

Author:

RAYAN NASSER ALMUTAIRI, ABDURAHMAN JEZA ALHARBI, MOHAMMED KHALED ALHARBI, WALEED HUSSAIN ALHARBI, ABDULLAH FAHD ALSULMY, SHOUG FEEHAN MODHYAN, RAZAN ABDULLAH ALHARBI, NAEEM MUNIR

DOI Number:

DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17374504

Published : 2025-10-10

About the author(s)

1. RAYAN NASSER ALMUTAIRI - Optometry Doctor, Masters in Optometry, Deputy Director of Eye Center and Head of Optometry Department, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
2. ABDURAHMAN JEZA ALHARBI - Optometry Doctor, Master’s in Business Administration and Head of Optometry Department, AlRass General Hospital – AlRass, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
3. MOHAMMED KHALED ALHARBI - Optometry Doctor, Department of Optometry, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
4. WALEED HUSSAIN ALHARBI - Optometry Doctor, Department of Optometry, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
5. ABDULLAH FAHD ALSULMY - Optometry Doctor, Department of Optometry, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
6. SHOUG FEEHAN MODHYAN - Optometry Doctor, Department of Optometry, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
7. RAZAN ABDULLAH ALHARBI - Optometry Doctor, Department of Optometry, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
8. NAEEM MUNIR - FCPS, FRCS, Opthalmologist and Head of Ophthalmology Department, King Saud Hospital - Uniazah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

Background: Contemporary refractive surgery provides long lasting correction of refractive error, although safe results are only achieved by stringent candidate selection and lifelong co-management. Purpose: To combine the results of a secondary eye center in Unaizah, Qassim (Saudi Arabia), to elucidate clinical motivators of eligibility and the primary role of optometrists throughout the peri-operative process, and to place those results into perspective with other related studies. Procedures: 190 consecutive candidates including demographics, manifest refraction, tear breakup time TBUT, Pentacam tomography/keratometry, central corneal thickness CCT; exclusion criteria and reasons for exclusion were summed up; awareness among the population was measured. Findings: 53% met the criteria; 47% did not including chiefly dry eye (39%), keratoconus (32%), recent isotretinoin (12%), below threshold age (10%), amblyopia (5%), high hyperopia (2%). Thick corneas (CCT 526 +- 29.7 um) were found in eligible patients as compared to ineligible patients (508 +- 48.9 um). Knowledge and awareness level was low. Conclusion: Optometrists can provide comprehensive education and ocular examination preoperatively to refractive surgeries.


Keywords

Refractive Surgery; Keratoconus; Dry Eye Disease; Patient Awareness; Optometrist Co Management.