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Hashemi H, Saatchi M, Yekta A, Ali B, Ostadimoghaddam H, Nabovati P, Aghamirsalim M, Khabazkhoob M. High Prevalence of Asthenopia among a Population of University Students . JOVR [Internet]. 2019Oct.24 [cited 2024Apr.20];14(4):474–482. Available from: https://knepublishing.com/index.php/JOVR/article/view/5455

https://doi.org/10.18502/jovr.v14i4.5455

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authors

  • Hassan Hashemi

    Hassan Hashemi

    Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran; Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  • Mohammad Saatchi

    Mohammad Saatchi

    Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  • Abbasali Yekta

    Abbasali Yekta

    Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  • Babak Ali

    Babak Ali

    Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  • Hadi Ostadimoghaddam

    Hadi Ostadimoghaddam

    Refractive Errors Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  • Payam Nabovati

    Payam Nabovati

    Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim

    Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim

    Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Mehdi Khabazkhoob

    Mehdi Khabazkhoob

    Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Management, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical

Published Date

  • Oct 24, 2019
This journal is publishing all the articles under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

High Prevalence of Asthenopia among a Population of University Students

Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research (JOVR) / October–December 2019, Volume 14, Issue 4 / Pages 474–482

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of asthenopia and its associated factors in a sample of university students in Iran.


Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Presence of at least one of the 10 symptoms—foreign body sensation, diplopia, blurred vision, eye swelling, dry eye, eye pain, difficulty in sustaining visual operations, decreased visual acuity, tearing, and photophobia—was considered as asthenopia. Ocular examinations, including uncorrected/corrected visual acuity measurement, objective/subjective refraction, cover test, amplitude of accommodation (AA), and near point of convergence (NPC) were performed.


Results: Of the 1,462 students (mean age: 22.8 ± 3.1 years), 73% were women. The age- and gender standardized prevalence was 70.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 68.3–73.5), 39.8% (95% CI: 36.4–43.1), and 19.7% (95% CI: 16.0–23.3) based on the presence of at least one, two, and three symptoms, respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in females (P = 0.048), hyperopic students (P < 0.001), and astigmatic participants (P < 0.001). The mean AA and NPC were 9.7 ± 2.6 D and 10.2 ± 4.2 D (P = 0.008) and 7.0 ± 2.1 cm and 7.7 ± 3.9 cm (P < 0.001) in participants with and without asthenopia, respectively. Multiple regression model revealed age (28–29 years), astigmatism, and NPC as independent associated factors (odds ratios: 3.51, 1.61, and 0.91, respectively).


Conclusion: This study shows relatively high prevalence of asthenopia in university students. Demographic factors and visual system disorders are important risk factors and timely correction of conditions may lead to decreased asthenopia.

Keywords:

Asthenopia, Astigmatism, Photophobia, Prevalence

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