Knowledge and Awareness of Myopia Among Parents and Teachers of Schoolchildren Aged 6-15 Years in Beirut, Lebanon.

Abstract

Background: Using a cross-sectional design, this study assessed and compared myopia knowledge among parents and teachers of schoolchildren aged 6-15 years in Beirut, Lebanon.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted between October 2022 and February 2024 among parents (n = 1256) and teachers (n = 366) of children aged 6-15 years. Using validated online Google Form questionnaires, data were collected on demographics, awareness, risk factors, and myopia knowledge, and analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 28 (SPSS v28) through descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: Findings showed that 78.3% of parents and 79.5% of teachers had poor knowledge of myopia. Among teachers, better knowledge was linked to being male, having a family history of myopia, positive attitudes toward eyeglasses use, and attending regular or occasional eye care visits (all statistically significant). Among parents, higher knowledge was associated with having previously heard of myopia, higher income and education levels, and a family history of myopia, while parents of private-school children were less knowledgeable. Odds ratios below 1 indicate lower odds of good myopia knowledge relative to the reference category.

Conclusions: Both groups showed inadequate knowledge, underscoring the urgent need for targeted educational interventions to improve myopia awareness and prevention.