Refractive errors among engineering students in Norway

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Public Health

Background:

• Refractive errors, including myopia and hyperopia, are common visual impairments.
• High educational demands and extensive near work are suspected risk factors for refractive error progression.
• Understanding the prevalence in specific demographics, like university students, is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of myopia and hyperopia in first-year engineering students.
• To investigate the age of first spectacle prescription among myopic students.
• To explore potential correlations between refractive errors, gender, body height, and intraocular pressure.

Main Methods:

• Subjective refraction was performed on 224 first-year engineering students (mean age 20.6 years).
• Data on refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia), age of first correction, gender, body height, and intraocular pressure were collected.
• Statistical analyses were used to compare prevalence rates and explore correlations.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of myopia (42.9% in both eyes) and hyperopia (23.2% in both eyes) was detected.
• The mean refractive error for the group was -0.7 D.
• Over half of myopic students received their first corrective lenses at age 16 or later; no significant gender difference in myopia prevalence was observed.

Conclusions:

• First-year engineering students exhibit substantial rates of myopia and hyperopia, potentially linked to intense academic demands.
• A significant proportion of myopic students experience delayed initiation of corrective eyewear, suggesting a need for enhanced screening.
• While body height showed a correlation in women, intraocular pressure was not significantly related to refractive errors in this cohort.