Chanikarn Poovichayasumlit¹, Artit Khewnoparatana¹

Objective: To study the prevalence of myopia and pseudomyopia and their factors in medical and nursing students.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study that comprised 250 students at Navamindradhiraj University, Thailand. The authors did the eye examination, including pre-cycloplegic and post-cycloplegic autorefraction, then analyzed the data using crude analysis, simple logistic regression analysis, and Multiple logistic regression analysis with SPSS. Furthermore, the authors recorded the data, such as demographics, ocular history, and the amount of time spent using various devices with a screen and paper reading.

Results: The prevalence of myopia and pseudomyopia were 50% and 13.6%, respectively. Myopia risk factors were older age, male gender, sleeping more than six hours and time spent using a tablet (p<0.05). Students with increasing age each year had a 1.70-fold increase in myopia (adjusted OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.31, p<0.001). Besides, students with a history of using artificial tears were 2.91 times more likely to have myopia than students without a history of using artificial tears. Risk factors of pseudomyopia were sleeping time less than six hours and time spent reading paper books (p<0.05). The outdoor activity was not associated with myopia and pseudomyopia.

Conclusion: The present study provides information regarding the risk factors of myopia and pseudomyopia. In addition, the present study shows that outdoor activity could not function as a protective factor against myopia.

Received 4 June 2024 | Revised 24 October 2024 | Accepted 1 November 2024

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2024.12.994-1001-01054