Abstract

This study aims at investigating the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practice habits of optometrists in Jordan towards blue light-blocking ophthalmic devices. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey covering the sociodemographic characteristics of participants, knowledge of sources of blue light, the potential effect of blue light on the eye, and the attitudes and perceptions of optometrists towards blue light filtering devices. Of the 381 participants, 67.2% have prescribed blue light filtering devices, with the first pair of lenses prescribed in the year 2013. Only 11.9% of the prescribed spectacles were ordered with blue light-blocking filter, with 38.6% citing revenue increase as the cause of prescribing the lenses. Blue light was implicated in contributing to digital eye strain and retinal damage by 80.1% and 80.3% of the participants, respectively. Online resources were the main source of information regarding blue light for 52.8% of the participants. Optometrists were most inclined to prescribe blue light filtering lenses if they believe that blue light can cause retinal damage (odds ratio, OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03-3.83, P= 0.027) or digital eye strain (OR 1.81, 95% CI 0.89-3.45, P=0.036). Jordanian optometrists prescribe blue light blocking spectacles mainly to increase profit to the practice, there is a need for education about the benefits of the spectacles.