Frequency of Refractive Errors in the Students of Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Punjab Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the frequency of refractive errors in the students of Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology (KFUEIT), Rahim Yar Khan. A Cross-sectional university-based study was carried out from March 1, 2023, to May 19, 2023, at KFUEIT. All enrolled students from various disciplines at KFUEIT were included, except those who were not KFUEIT students or had undergone ocular surgery, or had preexisting other eye diseases, systemic diseases, or syndromes. Out of a total of 623 students representing various disciplines who participated in the study, 603 met the predefined inclusion criteria. Visual acuity testing, non-cycloplegic objective refraction, and subjective verification were performed to evaluate refractive error measurements. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21, employing descriptive statistics, frequency calculations, and cross-tabulations. According to the results of the study, 179 students out of the 603, which is approximately 29.7%, had refractive errors. Myopia emerged as the most prevalent refractive error, affecting 25.2% of students, followed by astigmatism (3.0%) and hyperopia (1.5%). Gender analysis demonstrated a slightly higher prevalence of myopia among male students compared to females. Moderate myopia was the most prevalent severity level observed. Male students predominantly exhibited compound myopic astigmatism, while simple myopic astigmatism was more prevalent in females. Conclusion: Our study at KFUEIT found that 29.7% of the 603 students had refractive errors. These findings can guide interventions and policies for a visually healthy environment at KFUEIT.