Refractive Errors Among Medical Students In Jordan: Prevalence, Types And Possible Risk Factors

This study aims to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among medical students in Jordan.

Refractive errors are a major public health problem worldwide and the most common cause of visual impairment and the second leading cause of blindness. In Jordanian medical students, the prevalence of refractive errors have never been studied before. In this report, we studied the prevalence of different refractive errors in medical students in Jordan. Moreover, possible risk factors in this group were investigated.

Cross -sectional model through an online questionairre was conducted. The questionairre was distributed randomly to 700 medical students.

Females participated more than males. It was revealed that 525 (75%) of the total students were found to have a refractive error. Myopia was the most common type. About 97% of students have a positive family history of refractive errors which was more significant in students with refractive errors. Spectacles were the most common used method of tratment.

The prevalence of refractive errors was high among medical students in Jordan. A positive family history was associated with students having refractive errors.