Prevalence of Refractive Errors Among Patients Attending Al-Wahdah Teaching Hospital, Ophthalmic Clinic in Dhamar Governorate, Yemen

Abstract

Background: Refractive errors (REs) are one of the major causes of visual impairment and health problem worldwide particularly in developing countries including Yemen. Aim: This study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of refractive errors among patients attending the ophthalmic clinic at Thamar University Al-Wahdah Teaching Hospital (TUWTH), Yemen. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 534 patients (aged 6- 40 years) attending the ophthalmology out-patient clinic at TUWTH during the period of 1st February to 1st May 2019. For each patient, detailed Ophthalmology examination including visual acuity (VA) assessment, objective and subjective refraction were done. The data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire included demographic characteristics, present medical history and clinical investigations. Results: The results showed that the overall prevalence rate of REs was 32.02% (171/534). The rates of different types of RE were 10.67%, 7.87%, 7.30%, 3.37% and 2.81 % for Myopia, Myopic astigmatism, Hyperopic astigmatism, Mixed astigmatism and Hyperopia respectively. The overall prevalence of RE was significantly higher among females than males (36.96% vs 26.74%., P= 0.012). The highest rate of RE significantly observed among who having primary education followed by ≥ secondary education, and illiterates (37.80%;29.79% and 24.49 %. respectively, P=0.019). Conclusion: This study provides hospital-based information on the prevalence rate of RE among patients in Dhamar governorate, Yemen. The results demonstrate that females and educated patients have higher prevalence rate of REs.