Posters

Prevalence of refractive errors and its associated risk factors among medical students of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia 2019: a cross-sectional study

Poster Details

First Author: I.Abuallut GERMANY

Co Author(s):                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Refractive errors are most common and continue to increase globally, particularly myopia. Uncorrected refractive errors (RE) are the second leading cause of preventable blindness and the most common cause of visual impairment. The main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of refractive errors and investigate its associated risk factors among medical students of Jazan region, Saudi Arabia.

Setting:

Jazan region, Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of 447 medical students in Jazan University. Eye examination was conducted using autorefractor test (Huvitz HRK-8000A Autorefractor Keratometer to measure the spherical (emmetropia, myopia and hyperopia) and the cylindrical (astigmatism). Factors associated with myopia and hyperopia were evaluated using logistic regression models.

Results:

The overall prevalence of refractive errors was [48.8%; 95% CI: 44.2-53.4]. The prevalence of refractive errors among female medical students was [55.1%, 95%CI 48.6-61.5] significantly higher than males [42.3%, 95% CI 36.0-48.9], p. value less than 0.05. Of the 447 medical students examined approximately one third 33.8% are having myopia, 10.5% had astigmatism and only 10.5% had hyperopia. The results of logistic regression indicated that females were 52% more myopic than males [OR = 1.52 ,95% CI, 1.04-2.22], while participants with both parents’ history of refractive error were two fold more myopic than students with no family history of refractive errors [OR = 2.01,95% CI, 1.2-3.4]. History of blurred vision also increases the risk of myopia by seven times [OR= 7.2, 95% CI, 6.4-11.3].

Conclusions:

Refractive error among medical students is a problem and needs to be assessed crefully before chosen an specialty that may need very good vision for near and far for post graduation study.

Financial Disclosure:

None