Proportion of refractive errors among undergraduate students of a medical college in South Kerala

Abstract

Background: Refractive errors are a leading cause of vision impairment, affecting over a billion people worldwide. Medical students are at high risk due to prolonged screen exposure and academic demands. Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the proportion of refractive errors among undergraduate students of a medical college in South Kerala and determine the factors associated with refractive errors. Materials and Methods: An Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 medical students over 3 months (July to September 2024) using a semi-structured, expert-validated questionnaire. Data were collected via Google Forms, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS Trial Version 28. Results were expressed as frequencies and percentages, with significance tests applied. Results: Refractive errors were found in 50.7% of participants, with myopia (90%) being the most common, followed by astigmatism (7.9%) and hypermetropia (0.5%). Among those affected, 94.7% were diagnosed before joining medical college, and spectacles were the primary corrective measure (92.6%). A significant association was found between refractive errors and female gender (P = 0.006), urban residence (P = 0.016), higher maternal education (P = 0.001), family history of refractive errors (P = 0.001), eye rubbing (P = 0.001), and daily computer use (P = 0.001). Other sociodemographic and behavioral factors showed no significant association. Conclusion: The high proportion of refractive errors among medical students necessitates targeted interventions. Awareness campaigns, regular eye check-ups, and reducing risk behaviors such as excessive eye rubbing and prolonged screen time are crucial for improving visual health.

Keywords

• medical students
• myopia
• proportion
• refractive errors
• risk factors