Characteristics and Medical Accuracy of Online Discussions of Retinal Conditions on a Social Media Platform

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the content and medical accuracy of retina-related patient discussions on Reddit, an anonymous social media platform, to better understand the main concerns and reliability of a highly accessible resource. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed of the top 20 posts and top 3 comments from 2011 to 2022 on the Reddit subforums r/Optometry and r/EyeTriage containing the following keywords: “retinal detachment”, “macular edema”, “macular degeneration”, and “diabetic retinopathy”. Results: This study assessed 407 posts and comments. Most users who posted were current patients (n = 71 [60.2%]). Most commenters did not specify their identity (n = 172 [59.5%]). A portion of respondents identified as optometrists (n = 51 [17.6%]), and few identified as ophthalmologists (n = 11 [3.8%]). Many statements were medically inaccurate (n = 31 [40.8%]), with pathophysiology comprising the most commonly misunderstood topic (n = 15 [48.4%]). Conclusions: Given the prevalence of inaccurate information and the lack of credibility among Reddit posters, patients should take caution in using these sites for medical guidance regarding retinal conditions.