::INDO AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES::

CODEN : IAJPBB
issn 2349-7750

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TITLE:

DETERMINANTS OF UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERRORS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AT A PUBLIC MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

AUTHORS:

M Taimoor Iftikhar, M Salik, Nimra Sadiq, M Numair, Hajra Mukhtar, M Asad Raza, Rimsha Alamdar, Rumsha Razzaq, Hina Javed, Mahnoor Yousaf, Farhan Khalid, Awais Khalid1, Abdul Haseeb, Salman Zafar

ABSTRACT:

Refractive errors occur when changes in shape of the eye and crystalline lens prevent light from focusing directly on the retina. Approximately 500 million people worldwide suffer from visual impairment or blindness due to uncorrected refractive error. Objective: To find the determinants of uncorrected refractive errors among students of all MBBS classes at King Edward Medical University. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 subjects, with uncorrected refractive errors. Study was done at King Edward Medical University, Lahore for a duration of 6 months. Data was collected on visual function questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. Data was analyzed using SPSS V24 to calculate frequencies of self-reported determinants by the students. Results: Students belonged within the age group 18-24 years. Among the questioned students 45.5% were male and 54.5% were female. 86.1% reported significant improvement in vision with visual aids. A majority of students cited cosmetic reasons (68.9%) or being careless (84%) as a cause for not using spectacles. While 32.7% were uncomfortable with spectacles, and 4% reported financial reasons. Being unaware of risks associated with not wearing glasses was reported by 25.8% of students. Conclusion: Cosmetic reasons, negligence and discomfort with spectacle use were most frequently responsible for medical students having uncorrected refractive errors. Keywords: Uncorrected refractive errors, medical students, determinants.