YouTube as a Digital Source: An Evaluation of the Most Viewed Videos on Visual Screenings, Visual Impairment, and Red Eye

Aim: This study aims to systematically evaluate the content quality of the most viewed YouTube videos related to ophthalmological topics such as vision screenings, visual impairments, and red eye, which have a direct impact on public health due to their association with decreased quality of life and loss of workforce resulting from vision loss.Materials and Methods: The search terms “vision screening,” “visual impairments,” and “red eye” were used to identify relevant videos on YouTube. An anonymous browser was used during video selection to minimize algorithmic bias. The reliability of the retrieved videos was assessed using a modified DISCERN (Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information) instrument. To evaluate the overall quality of the information presented, the Global Quality Scale (GQS) was employed. Based on the scores obtained, the videos were categorized into three groups: high quality (good/excellent), moderate quality, and low quality.Results: Among the analyzed videos, 22.7% (n=20) were classified as high quality (good/excellent), 64.8% (n=57) as moderate quality, and 12.5% (n=11) as low quality. Videos in the high-quality group had significantly higher median DISCERN scores compared to those in the moderate and low-quality groups (p=0.00). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between total view count and both GQS and DISCERN scores (p=0.002, r=–0.331; p=0.029, r=–0.233, respectively). Similarly, total number of likes showed a significant negative correlation with GQS and DISCERN scores (p=0.002, r=–0.330; p=0.027, r=–0.236, respectively). In contrast, a significant positive correlation was observed between GQS and DISCERN scores (p=0.000, r=0.752).Conclusions: As a digital resource, YouTube hosts a substantial volume of content across a wide range of topics, including healthcare. However, some videos on the platform may contain inaccurate, misleading, or insufficient information. Therefore, healthcare professionals should educate their patients on the importance of critically assessing digital health content, guide them toward reliable and evidence-based sources, and emphasize the need for careful evaluation of online medical information.