Factors influencing Saudi Arabian optometry candidates' career choices and institution of learning. Why do Saudi students choose to study optometry?

BACKGROUND: Optometry is a primary health-care profession (PHCP) and this study aimed to elucidate the factors influencing the choice of optometry as a career for Saudi students, the students' perceptions of optometry and the effect of gender. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-seven students whose average age was 21.7 ± 1.5 (SD) years and who are currently enrolled in two colleges of optometry in Saudi Arabia--King Saud University (KSU) and Qassim University (QU)--completed self-administered questionnaires. The survey included questions concerning demography, career first choice, career perception and factors influencing career choices. RESULTS: The response rate was 87.6 per cent and there were 161 male (64.9 per cent) students. Seventy-nine per cent of the participants were from KSU (males and females) and 20.6 per cent were from QU (only males). Seventy-three per cent come from Riyadh and 19 per cent are from Qassim province. Regarding the first choice for their careers, the females (92 per cent) were 0.4 times more likely (p = 0.012) to choose optometry than males (78.3 per cent). The males were significantly more likely to be influenced by the following factors: the Doctor of Optometry (OD) programs run at both universities, good salary and prospects (p < 0.05, for all). The women were significantly less likely to be influenced by another individual (p = 0.0004). Generally, more than two-thirds of the respondents viewed the desire to help others, professional prestige and the new OD programs as the three most influential factors in opting for a career in optometry. CONCLUSION: Females were more likely to opt for a career in optometry and males were more likely to be influenced by the new OD programs, good salary and job prospects. Service provision to others in the community was a primary motivation to opt for a career in optometry among young Saudis.

Contact lens status in ametropia correction: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Optical devices such as spectacles and contact lenses have been used to correct ametropia for many years. Recently, surgical means of correction such as photorefractive keratectomy have been introduced. All of these forms of correction are readily available in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of contact lens use in ametropia correction. This survey also presents an insight into patient satisfaction with their correction and their willingness to change to another form of correction in the future. This will serve as a guide for eye care practitioners and manufacturers. METHOD: Five hundred and seventy four subjects responded to questionnaires randomly distributed among hospital patients, students and staff of King Saud University. RESULTS: Data revealed that spectacle wearers constituted 74.5 per cent of the sample population, followed by contact lens wearers (21.8 per cent) and those who had undergone photorefractive keratectomy (3.7 per cent). On the whole, 50 per cent of the population sample would change to another form of correction. Among contact lens wearers, 9.5 per cent would prefer to change to PRK and 0.4 per cent to spectacles, while 17.9 per cent of spectacle wearers would consider changing to contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Contact lenses constitute a minor proportion of ametropia corrections. Spectacles remain the most popular form of ametropia correction at the moment, but for the future, there is greater tendency towards contact lenses and PRK.