Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Sep 2023)
Stereopsis among Medical Students
Abstract
Background and purpose: Depth perception (stereopsis) is the ability to perceive depth in visual space through sensory integration of retinal images in both eyes and is achieved through binocular perception in specific visual pathways in the cerebral cortex. Medical students use a variety of diagnostic tools during their training, and a lack of normal stereoacuity can affect their professional performance. Understanding the appropriate stereopsis also plays a crucial role in their future careers. The purpose of this study was to determine stereopsis using the Titmus test in subjects with and without refractive errors. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 115 students at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected. Based on the presence or absence of refractive errors through retinoscopy, they were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. The stereopsis was measured by the Titmus test. Data were analyzed in SPSS V 21, and the frequency of stereoacuity was reported. Results: A total of 115 people enrolled in this study. Males accounted 55.7% (n=64) of the subjects and 44.3% (n=51) of the subjects were females. The mean age of male and female participants were 25.20±1.88 and 24.15±1.79 years, respectively (P>0.05). There were 40 (34.8%) students with refractive errors and 75 (65.2%) without refractive errors. The mean values for stereopsis in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects were 42.90±29.59 and 29.24±12.96 seconds/arc, respectively(P=0.001). These values in males and females were 32.12±20.73 and 36.33±21.85 seconds/arc, respectively (P=0.293). The mean test time was 57.75±18.43 and 56.0±18.49 seconds in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects (P=0.629), and 54.45±17.82 and 59.31±18.94 seconds in males and females (P=0.160), respectively. Conclusion: Titmus stereo test was found to be an effective test for evaluating the depth perception of symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. There was no difference in the stereopsis between males and females in this study.
