Prevalence and Impact of Non-Strabismic Binocular Vision Disorders among College Students in Surat District, Gujarat: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract— Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Non-Strabismic Binocular Vision Disorders (NSBVD),including Convergence Insufficiency (CI) and Accommodative Insufficiency (AI), among college students in Surat, Gujarat, andto explore correlations with screen time and academic demands.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 college students aged 18–25 years. Participants underwent binocularvision assessments, including Near Point of Convergence (NPC), Near Point of Accommodation (NPA), and fusional vergencetesting. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence of NSBVD and itsassociations with screen time.Results: The overall prevalence of NSBVD was 30% (95% CI: 25.1% - 34.9%). Convergence Insufficiency was the mostcommon disorder, affecting 18% (95% CI: 13.8% - 22.2%) of students, followed by Accommodative Insufficiency (8%, 95%CI: 5.0% - 11.0%) and Accommodative Excess (4%, 95% CI: 2.0% - 6.0%). High screen time (>6 hours/day) was stronglyassociated with increased NSBVD prevalence, with 40% of participants in this group exhibiting symptoms of NSBVD,particularly CI (22%). No significant age or gender differences in NSBVD prevalence were observed.Conclusion: The study identifies a high prevalence of NSBVD among college students, especially those with prolonged screentime. These findings highlight the need for routine visual health screenings, ergonomic interventions, and targeted vision therapyto alleviate visual strain and support academic performance. Prolonged screen exposure and academic pressures should beconsidered critical factors in the management of NSBVD in young adults.