Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
  • Year: 2018
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 4

Study of refractive errors in medical students

1Professor and Head, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

2Professor, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

3Resident, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

*Corresponding Author: Pragati Garg Email: drpragati89@gmail.com

Online published on 14 January, 2019.

Abstract

Refractive errors are apparently more prevalent among the high educational group and have become a huge economic and social burden.1

The study was conducted at Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital and included 420 medical students of consecutive 4ys (2013–2016). Refractive error was assessed under cycloplegia using Snellen's visual acquity drum and streak retinoscope. The students were categorized according to their refractive error and the prevalence was calculated.

Of 420 students 54% had refractive error. Of these 77.7% had myopia, 8.4% had hypermetropia and 1.7% had astigmatism. Myopes were further divided into mild moderate & severe. It was found that 62.8% had mild, 35.4% had moderate and 13.7% had severe myopia.

The commonest refractive error among medical students is myopia of varying grades.

Keywords

Medical students, Myopia, Refractive error