Pattern of refractive errors among the Nepalese population: a retrospective study.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Optometry

Background:

• Refractive errors represent a significant global public health challenge, contributing substantially to visual impairment.
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of refractive errors is crucial for effective eye care strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiological patterns of refractive errors in patients attending a tertiary care hospital in western Nepal.
• To identify the most common types of refractive errors and their distribution within the studied population.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.
• Data from 15,410 patients with refractive errors (≥0.5 D) were analyzed.
• Patient demographics and refractive error types (myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism) were recorded.

Main Results:

• 10.8% of patients presented with refractive errors, with myopia being the most prevalent, followed by hypermetropia.
• Myopia was more common in males, while hypermetropia predominated in females.
• Refractive errors showed a progression towards myopia in younger individuals (up to 30 years) and a shift towards hypermetropia in older adults (up to 70 years).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a distinct age-related pattern in refractive errors, with a myopic shift in younger adults and a hyperopic shift in older individuals.
• Awareness of these refractive error trends, particularly the hyperopic shift in young adults, is essential for planning refractive surgeries.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and refractive error management in the Nepalese population.