Abstract

Background: Myopia is being more and more common in young age, particularly in higher academic group. Medical curriculum involves extensive and long duration near work including reading, writing, and working with microscope. Along with the use of gadgets, medical students go through more hours of reading. Along with this, certain aggravating factors such as using excessive mobiles, computers, playing video games, improper lighting while reading, watching television (TV), and more time spent indoor rather than outdoor are also responsible for refractive errors. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of this study were as follows: (a) To access the prevalence of refractive errors among medical students and (b) to find out determinants of myopia among medical students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 248 M.B.B.S students in GMERS Medical College, Patan, after getting permission from the institutional ethics committee. After written informed consent, pre-tested questionnaire was given to fill it. Data regarding various determinants of myopia were collected such as reading duration, reading timing, using mobiles, watching TV, using computer, their outdoor activities, and familial history of refractive errors. Those students who denied consent and absent during data collection day were excluded from the study.
Results: Refractive error was observed in 120 students (48.3%). The most common RE was myopia (90.0%) followed by astigmatism (10%) and hypermetropia (0%). The prevalence of myopia was significantly higher among those who usually read at night, sleep after 12 am, and use night lamp during sleep. However, more reading hours were not associated with myopia. Positive family history and preference of indoor activity during leisure time were significantly associated with myopia. Duration of watching TV and computer and mobile use was significantly more among myopic students as compared to students with normal refraction. Sleeping hour is also less in myopic students (5.9 ± 0.8 h) than other students (6.8 ± 1.5 h). Conclusion: The prevalence of RE (refractive error) was 48.3% among medical students, and myopia was the most common RE. Myopia was significantly associated with positive family history, reading at night, preference of supine position during reading, late night sleep, duration of TV watching, computer use, and playing with mobile, less outdoor activities.