To Determine the Prevalence of Refractive Errors in Undergraduate Students of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana

BACKGROUND Refractive errors are the most prevalent condition that affects people of all ages. It is the most common cause of avoidable visual impairment, accounting for 43% of all visual impairments globally. Undetected refractive problems can lead to ocular discomfort, attention deficit, avoidance of work, and the formation of a negative link between visual discomfort and educational activities. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among undergraduates of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. A total of 300 undergraduate students were enrolled and studied over a period of 3 months. A detailed history and examination of each student was done. Refraction was done for each student with visual acuity <6/6 and error correction was provided individually. Further, types of refractive errors were recorded and categorized according to the dioptric powers. RESULTS Among the 600 eyes examined, the prevalence of refractive errors was found in 369 eyes (61.5%). The most common refractive error was compound myopic astigmatism, seen in 168 eyes (28%). Age groups of 18-20 and 24-25 years showed the maximum prevalence of 68.6% and 68.8% respectively. Among 76 male students (152 eyes) and 224 female students (448 eyes), the prevalence of refractive error was 60.5% and 61.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The study emphasizes the prevalence of refractive errors in younger people. Simple myopia and compound myopic astigmatism were the most common refractive errors in the study. The results highlight the need for early vision screening programs, especially for young adults and adolescents, in order to avoid long-term visual complications.