Roksana Khanam^1,, Azra Shamiha Asha¹, Shahin Mahmud¹, Fatama Tous Zohora¹

In children and young adults, myopia is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Multiple epidemiological studies have confirmed that Asian countries have a high frequency of myopia. The aim of the study to determine the prevalence of myopia and to investigate factors associated with myopia/refractive error among different ages students in Bangladesh. The prevalence of myopia was measured in a cross-sectional study of 300 (three hundred) students in Tangail, Bangladesh. To investigate the relationship between different risk variables and myopia, Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were used. Out of total 300 students, 159 (53%) were myopic. Among the participants, 55 % were between the ages of 18 and 24 years, and there was a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001). The prevalence of myopia was higher in female (58.7 % of myopic students) than male. Family history of myopia was positive in 62.9% myopic students. The sleeping hours of 36% students were < 6 hours, 6 hours in 31.3%, 7 hours in 24% and > 8 hours per day in 8.7%. There were a strong significant relationship between refractive error and insufficient time spent on outdoor activities, low light work activity, spending their time on electronic devices etc. No significant statistical relationship was found between refractive error and diabetes, steroidal medications, blood pressure, smoking, dietary intake and allergic problem. The study revealed some key determinants of myopia that will help to expand our knowledge about health and future research.

Bangladesh, myopia, refractive error, family history, sleeping hours