Why Ophthalmology: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Motivating Factors Influencing the Choice of Ophthalmology as a Career Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

Background: Choosing a future career is a frightening and anxious decision for medical students; understanding any factor that influences making such a decision will be helpful for the medical students to reach it with satisfaction. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the factors that would influence the choice of ophthalmology as a future career among medical students in multi-medical colleges in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for pre-clinical and clinical medical students from February 2021 to May 2021 in multi-medical colleges in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire used was from previously published research, and it was modified and validated by a board-certified ophthalmologist. Results: A total of 6.1% of all medical students considered ophthalmology as their first choice as a future career; factors that influenced choosing ophthalmology were personal interest, satisfaction from improving patient quality of vision, good patient prognosis, and the appeal of being an ophthalmologist; these factors showed a highly significant difference in comparison to other factors. Conclusion: Several factors are explored for choosing ophthalmology as a future specialty; understanding these factors can help medical students determine their choices for a future career.