Online patient education websites on myopia in Australia and Canada overshoot the recommended reading level advised by experts for easy communication of complex medical topics, a new study has found.
The study, published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science,1 assessed the top 10 Google search results from May 2024 for freely available online patient information on myopia management modalities and regulatory-approved products.
Searches were conducted in Canada and Australia, but websites could be based in any country.
Their readability was assessed using several different scoring systems. Additionally, websites were scored on Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria relating to attribution, authorship, currency, and disclosure.
Of the 120 websites, none met the recommended sixth grade reading level across all readability indices
The websites assessed provided patient information on approved myopia management treatments – orthokeratology, myopia control, spectacle lenses, myopia control soft contact lenses, and atropine, as well as several products. The searches produced 120 results after excluding repeated low-level red-light therapy due to insufficient websites. Researchers restricted selections to English-language, patient-oriented resources and included PDFs, such as brochures or package inserts, while excluding journal articles and websites targeted at practitioners.
Of the 120 websites, none met the recommended sixth grade reading level across all readability indices. Thirteen websites met at least one readability index, 10 being product related. There were seven websites satisfying all four JAMA benchmarks – and all came from one professional organisation – while the majority met one.
The study authors concluded that these materials generally required reading skills above the sixth-grade level and fell short on quality standards. They noted that easier readability could improve patient access to treatment and outcomes, and that search results being at the top of Google searches did not guarantee better materials.
“While health information often has a higher readability level than is recommended, research shows that easier readability benefits outcomes for healthcare consumers,” the researchers said. “Overall, access to online health information and easier readability helps empower patients.
“The readability of online patient education materials should be a key consideration, as it may influence access to treatment and patient outcomes. This presents an opportunity to educate and advance patient awareness on the need to manage myopia,” the study authors concluded.
Reference
- Jong M, Waugh M, Ozmizrak P, Flitcroft I. Readability of online patient education materials for myopia management. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2026 Mar 16. doi: 10.1007/s44402-026-00030-6.
