Factors Associated with the Myopia Degree in Students

Abstract

Purpose: to identify the most significant factors associated with myopic refraction in medical university students, which can be used for early prediction and prevention of myopia.Materials and methods. The survey data of students of 1–6 courses of Kazan State Medical University and the data on refraction of patients’ eyes obtained from the “Medical record of a patient receiving medical care on an outpatient basis” (registration form No. 025/y) were used. The refraction of the eye in each of the participants was calculated as the average value of the spherical equivalent of the right and left eyes.Results. According to the ophthalmologist’s examination, myopia was detected in 219 (69 %) of the surveyed students. 134 (42 %) students had mild myopia, 66 (21 %) had moderate myopia, 19 (6 %) were highly myopic. Among myopes, 73 % of students wear glasses (160/219), contact lenses — 41 % of respondents (90/219). The median age of onset of spectacle wear was 13 years (Q1–Q3 = 10–26). The median refraction of the right eye (D) was -2.50 D (Q1–Q3 = -1.5…-4.0), the left eye -2.75 D (Q1–Q3 = -1.6…-4.0). The early age of onset of spectacle wear is the factor most significantly associated with myopic refraction (+0.23 D/year, p = 1.30×10-11), and an important prognostic sign of the development of high myopia. Factors associated with stronger myopic refraction are high height and low weight, as well as less physical activity.Conclusion. It is necessary to take into account the anthropometric and behavioral features of the patient when developing an individual plan for the prevention and treatment of myopia, in order to avoid the development of complications leading to vision loss.