Refractive Errors Among Medical Students in Jordan: Prevalence, Types and Possible Risk Factors

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among medical students in Jordan. Materials & methods: Cross-sectional model through an online questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire was distributed randomly to 700 medical students. Results: 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 79.0% 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 treatment. Conclusion: The prevalence of refractive errors was high among medical students in Jordan. A positive family history was associated with students having refractive errors.

Plain Language Summary

Many reports have studied refractive errors and their risk factors in different groups and ethnicities. Also, types of refractive errors were found to have a different prevalence in different age groups. Whilst refractive errors in medical students have been studied in many countries, the prevalence of refractive errors has never been studied in Jordanian medical students before. In this study, we found that myopia (with or without astigmatism) was the most common type of refractive error in medical students.

Keywords:

• Jordan
• laser refractive surgery
• medical students
• prevalence
• refractive errors

Author contributions

All authors contributed significantly and in agreement with the content of the article. All authors were involved in project design, data collection, analysis, statistical analysis, data interpretation and writing the manuscript. All authors presented substantial contributions to the article and participated of correction and final approval of the version to be submitted.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

This study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendment. This research has obtained ethical approval from Research and Ethics Committee, at Jordan University of Science and Technology and King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan. We confirm that the privacy of the participants was saved, and the data were anonymized and maintained with confidentiality. Consent was obtained from all participants.