Readability of Online Patient Education Materials for Myopia Management

Purpose: Patients are turning to the internet to access educational materials to help them make healthcare decisions, making readability an important factor. This cross-sectional study assessed the readability of online patient education materials for myopia management treatments that have regulatory approval. Methods: The top 10 Google search results from May 2024 for freely available online patient information on myopia management modalities and regulatory-approved products in Canada and Australia were analysed for readability. The modalities included orthokeratology, myopia control spectacle lenses, myopia control soft contact lenses and atropine. The products included MiYOSMART® [HOYA®], Stellest® [Essilor®], MyoCare® [ZEISS], MiSight® 1 day [CooperVision®], ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day [Johnson & Johnson], NaturalVue® Multifocal 1 Day [VTI], ACUVUE® Abiliti® Overnight [Johnson & Johnson] and Eikance [Aspen Pharmacare Australia]. These searches gave 120 results. Readability was assessed with Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index and Coleman Liau Index (CLI). Additionally, websites were scored on Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with two-tailed tests. Results: Of 120 websites, none met the recommended sixth-grade reading level across all readability indices. There were 13 websites meeting at least one readability index, 10 being product-related. There were seven websites satisfying all four JAMA benchmarks, while the majority met one. There was a weak positive relationship between product search rank and readability (SMOG p = 0.02, GFI p = 0.02) and a weak negative relationship between JAMA benchmarks and readability for both modality (CLI p = 0.045) and product (CLI p = 0.049). Conclusions: Online information about myopia management is generally written above the recommended sixth-grade reading level and does not meet all JAMA benchmarks. Websites that appear as top search results do not necessarily have easier readability. The readability of online patient education materials may influence access to treatment and outcomes.