Refractive errors among students enrolled in Assiut University, Egypt

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of refractive errors in students enrolled in the first year in Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Patients and methods A total of 3442 students attending the pre-enrollment fitness clinic in Assiut University Hospital for routine medical examination before university enrollment underwent visual screening including uncorrected visual acuity, color vision, in addition to a slit-lamp examination. Students with a visual acuity of 6/9 or less in either eye undergo objective refraction and subjective verification to determine the best-corrected visual acuity. Results A total of 3442 students were enrolled in this study; refractive error was found in 360 (10.46%) students, 193 males and 167 females. Among these 360 students, the mean uncorrected visual acuity in the right and left eye was 0.19 ± 0.18 and 0.20 ± 0.18, respectively, whereas the best-corrected visual acuity in the right and left eye was 0.80 ± 0.26 and 0.80 ± 0.26, respectively. The mean spherical equivalent in the right and left eye was −2.71 ± 2.76 and −2.97 ± 2.83, respectively. Conclusion Refractive error is a common cause of visual impairment among the group of adolescents admitted for university education in Upper Egypt. Myopia is particularly more prevalent than that reported in other regions of Egypt and other countries. Early detection and correction is essential to avoid ametropic amblyopia.

Keywords

• Refractive error Myopia Hypermetropia
• Astigmatism
• south of Egypt
• Assiut