Prevalence of Refractive Errors Among Medical Students of Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

Introduction Refractive errors (REs) are on the rise among medical students due to the high academic pressure of long hours of reading and their association with close technology. Uncorrected REs cause impaired vision and blindness with considerable morbidity. Documenting the prevalence of REs among medical students helps with early detection and appropriate remedial measures to prevent eye morbidity. Aim The aim of the study was to find the prevalence of REs among medical students at Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, a medical institution in Raichur City, Karnataka, India. Methodology This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 425 medical students. An examination of the eye for REs was carried out using a streak retinoscope. The REs were noted in myopia <-0.5 diopters (D), hypermetropia >+0.5 D, and astigmatism >0.5 cylinder D. The data was statistically subjected. Categorical measurements have been presented as frequency (percentage). The chi-square test was applied to the association between the parameters. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among the 425 observed participants, 160 (37.6%) subjects had REs. Among the REs in the total population, myopia 78 (18.4%) was the most prevalent, followed by hypermetropia and astigmatism, both with 41 (9.6%) and 41 (9.6%) prevalence, respectively. Gender-wise and age-wise, myopia was highly prevalent in both genders and in all age groups except the 20 years age group. Conclusion The prevalence of REs in our study among medical students is a matter of concern, although it is less compared to other previous studies in different geographical areas of India. Regular checkups, early detection, and immediate treatment are very important to prevent further ocular complications.