The Incidence and Severity of Myopia in the Population of Medical Students and Its Dependence on Various Demographic Factors and Vision Hygiene Habits

Paweł Oszczędłowski (), Przemysław Raczkiewicz (), Piotr Więsyk, Kinga Brzuszkiewicz, Maria Rapa, Anna Matysik-Woźniak, Grzegorz Zieliński, Maksymilian Onyszkiewicz, Krzysztof Marek Rękas, Inga Makosz, Małgorzata Latalska, Aleksandra Czarnek-Chudzik, Jan Korulczyk and Robert Rejdak
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Paweł Oszczędłowski: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Przemysław Raczkiewicz: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Piotr Więsyk: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Kinga Brzuszkiewicz: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Maria Rapa: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Anna Matysik-Woźniak: Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Grzegorz Zieliński: Department of Sports Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Maksymilian Onyszkiewicz: Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Krzysztof Marek Rękas: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Inga Makosz: Students’ Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Małgorzata Latalska: Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Aleksandra Czarnek-Chudzik: Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Jan Korulczyk: Department of Didactics and Medical Simulation, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Robert Rejdak: Chair and Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: (1) Background: Myopia is one of the leading causes of visual impairment. Visual work and usage of electronic devices are known risk factors of myopia. Many education systems were forced to apply online and hybrid teaching methods, to reduce the number of new cases of COVID-19. Medical students are a population well-known for intense visual work in the form of learning; (2) Methods: Visual acuity and refractive error were measured in the population of medical students. Participants also filled out the survey that included their population characteristic and their habits related to the hygiene of vision; (3) Results: We found a correlation between the age of the first diagnosis of myopia and current values of refractive error. The majority of participants believe that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the health of their vision. Among methods of studying, usage of the computer screen was less preferred by myopic students; (4) Conclusions: In the population of medical school students in Eastern Poland, visual acuity was lower than 1.0 in 232 (52.97%) in the right eye and 234 (53.42%) in the left eye. Early recognition of refractive error has influenced its current values. Among methods of studying, usage of the computer screen was less preferred by myopic students. More population-based studies should focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of vision.

Keywords: myopia; refractive error; autorefractometry; COVID-19; visual work; medical students; online learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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