TikTok video accuracy for paediatric ophthalmology videos
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

The purpose of this study was to systematically assess paediatric ophthalmology related TikTok videos based on author type, gender, content and engagement, and characterise the quality, medical accuracy, understandability and actionability of educational content. Search terms included adult strabismus, amblyopia, cataract, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, dilated eyes, lazy eye, pink eye, retinopathy of prematurity, strabismus stye and vision screening. A search for vision screening recommendations gave no results. The top 20 videos for each search term were included for analysis. Information was taken on total views, total likes, total comments total saves and total shares. Video quality was assessed using the DISCERN tool and medical accuracy was assessed using the Modified Medical Information and Content Index (MICI). Understandability and actionability assessment were checked using the patient education materials assessment tool for audio-visual content. The results included 222 videos for 12 search terms with a median of 2600 views, 979.5 likes, 34 comments, 33.5 saves, 12 shares and 4.7 engagement level ratio per video. The most common authors were patients. Most posts (56.8%) were categorised as patient experience, and 58 videos were educational / live procedure / surgery. Those authored by optometrists accounted for 36.2%. Greater DISCERN scores were obtained for optometry / ophthalmology authors and greater PE<AT scores for ophthalmologists. MICI scores did not vary among authors. The authors conclude there is an appetite for producing more engaging paediatric ophthalmology content and this is best provided by ophthalmologists and eyecare providers for clinical accuracy, reliability and understanding.

An analysis of pediatric ophthalmology content on TikTok.
Borkhetaria RK, Devireddy N, Cannon N, et al.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2024;61(2):90–7.