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ABSTRACT
Optometrists’ attitudes toward established retinal imaging types such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), are generally positive in developed countries like in the UK, Australia etc. This is because OCT has become a pivotal diagnostic tool in ophthalmic practice. However there remains a gap in understanding the knowledge and attitudes of optometrists towards its utilization for the diagnosis of ocular diseases in Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, awareness and perception of optometrists towards the use of OCT in diagnosing ocular diseases. A total of 397 registered optometrist in Nigeria (females = 54.7% and males 45.3%) between 21-30 years of age with a mean age of 30.24 ± 7.09 years who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study. This was an online questionnaire-based crosssectional study. The results of this study showed that majority of the participants have heard (97.5%) and are familiar (96.5%) with the use of OCT for eye health assessment. A significant proportion have received formal training or education on OCT (71%), referred patients for OCT imaging (81.6%), and successfully diagnosed ocular diseases using OCT reports (48.9%). Participants expressed a high level of optimism regarding the future integration and utilization of OCT technology in Nigeria (57.7%). However, notable barriers were identified, with additional costs cited as a major challenge (58.1%), followed by the initial cost of equipment as a limitation (54.2%) and hindrance (38.9%). Interestingly, a majority highlighted the potential of subsidized equipment costs as a resource to overcome these barriers (46.2%). Statistical result using chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between participants workplace and their knowledge of OCT (0.014, p<0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that optometrists exhibit a good level of knowledge and awareness regarding the use of OCT for diagnosing ocular diseases. Their perceptions lean towards optimism regarding the future utilization of OCT in Nigeria, emphasizing its advantageous ability to visualize different retinal layers. This highlights the need for strategies to address cost barriers and facilitate wider access to OCT technology among optometrists, potentially through initiatives aimed at reducing equipment costs or providing financial assistance. Keywords: optical coherence tomography, optometrists, knowledge, attitude, perception.
