[Epidemiology of refraction abnormalities in Northern Navy young soldiers]

Screening ophthalmological studies were carried out in 2851 soldiers arriving to Northern Navy, in order to detect ocular diseases, refraction abnormalities, and functional disorders. Visual disorders were detected in 529 subjects (19%), refraction abnormalities in 87% of these. Myopia predominated (344 subjects, 66%) in the structure of ophthalmological disorders. Hypermetropia was detected in 114 patients (21%), anisometropia in 85 (16%). Twelve percent of all examinees were in need of optic correction. Epidemiological analysis showed an obvious increase in the prevalence of myopia from South to North: 204/1000 in Northern regions, 99/1000 in the central areas, and 56/1000 in Southern regions. Service in the Extreme North can be regarded as a factor of risk of myopia progress, requiring active preventive measures.