Prevalence and patterns of refractive errors among Nubian and Non-Nubian adults in South Egypt

Refractive errors are regarded as a public health challenge contributing to 123.7 million cases of moderate to severe distance vision impairment or blindness. Prevalence, pattern and degree of refractive errors affected by racial and ethnic variations. Nubians are an ethnic group indigenous to the region which is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt. The present study aims to detect the prevalence and patterns of different refractive errors among Nubian and non- Nubian adults in South Egypt. A community-based cross-sectional study that was carried out in randomly selected Nubian and non-Nubian districts. The study included 1820 adult individuals. They were divided into two groups (910 persons each) representing Nubian and non-Nubians adults in south Egypt. Following standard ophthalmic examination, autorefraction under cycloplegic was done. Data was collected and tabulated. Overall prevalence of refractive errors was 63.4% among South Egyptians. Refractive Errors were found in 66.5% of Nubians and in 60.2% of non- Nubians. Astigmatism existed in 56.3% of patients with no significant difference between both groups. Nubians were significantly more hyperopic and less myopic than non-Nubians (p < 0.001). Nubians exhibit a higher prevalence of overall refractive errors compared to the non- Nubians, with a marked tendency towards hyperopia.