Review

. 2019 Oct 24;14(4):474-482.

doi: 10.18502/jovr.v14i4.5455. eCollection 2019 Oct-Dec.

High Prevalence of Asthenopia among a Population of University Students

Hassan Hashemi^{1

2}, Mohammad Saatchi¹, Abbasali Yekta³, Babak Ali³, Hadi Ostadimoghaddam⁴, Payam Nabovati⁵, Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim⁶, Mehdi Khabazkhoob⁷

Affiliations

¹ Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
² Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Refractive Errors Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁵ Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Management, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 31875103
PMCID: PMC6825687
DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v14i4.5455

Review

High Prevalence of Asthenopia among a Population of University Students

Hassan Hashemi et al. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2019.

. 2019 Oct 24;14(4):474-482.

doi: 10.18502/jovr.v14i4.5455. eCollection 2019 Oct-Dec.

Authors

Hassan Hashemi^{1

2}, Mohammad Saatchi¹, Abbasali Yekta³, Babak Ali³, Hadi Ostadimoghaddam⁴, Payam Nabovati⁵, Mohamadreza Aghamirsalim⁶, Mehdi Khabazkhoob⁷

Affiliations

¹ Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
² Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Refractive Errors Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁵ Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Management, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 31875103
PMCID: PMC6825687
DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v14i4.5455

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 $\pm$ 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 $\pm$ 2.6 D and 10.2 $\pm$ 4.2 D (P = 0.008) and 7.0 $\pm$ 2.1 cm and 7.7 $\pm$ 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: Astigmatism; Photophobia; Prevalence; Asthenopia.

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Conflict of interest statement

There is no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
The prevalence of asthenopic symptoms in 1,465 students above 18 years in the city of Kazerun.

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High Prevalence of Asthenopia among a Population of University Students

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High Prevalence of Asthenopia among a Population of University Students

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