Prevalence and Awareness of Refractive Errors among Aljouf University Medical Students

Alruwaili, Waleed Sultan; Alruwaili, Mansour Sultan; Alkuwaykibi, Malak Khalid; Zaky, Khalid A.

doi:10.12816/0042958

Prevalence and Awareness of Refractive Errors among Aljouf University Medical Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ College of Medicine, Aljouf University

² King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Ministry of Health

³ CM-AU, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia

⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, CM-AU, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia

10.12816/0042958

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of refractive errors (REs) among medical students of Aljouf University.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted anonymously on 278 students. A structured close-ended questionnaire was distributed for data collection and checking awareness concerning REs amongst them in the period between December 2016 and January 2017. All volunteering participants underwent ophthalmic examination including autorefractometer examination (Topcon RM-8000B, Tokyo, Japan).
Results: The response rate was 72.3%. Mean age was 21.2 ± 1.45 years (range 19 - 25 years). 71.6% of the participant in the study was males. Results from the autorefractometer showed that 83.1% of participants suffered from REs. 74.129% were myopic, while 53.731% were astigmatic, and 47.264% had combined astigmatism and myopia. Furthermore, hypermetropia prevalence was 3.483%. 80.6% of males, while 89.5% of females suffered REs. However, there was no significant association between REs and gender (P>0.05). Only about half of the students (48.8%) involved in the study were aware of REs, which explains the notion that 51.5% of students enrolled were not using any kind of treatment for REs. Only 10.9% of students were engaged in regular follow up for eye care service.
Conclusion: The prevalence of REs among investigated students was 83.1%, which is one of the highest rates reported. There has to be a concern for a regular checkup starting from early ages as a preventive measure against REs through increasing knowledge, awareness and practice concerning REs particular for medical students as future health care professionals.

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