Color vision deficiency among biomedical students: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Color vision deficiency (CVD) can impact career choices in medicine.
• Understanding CVD prevalence in medical students is crucial for academic guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of color vision deficiency (CVD) among first-cycle students at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I.
• To assess the rate of CVD in a Cameroonian medical student population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from October 2015 to May 2016.
• Utilized Ishihara's plates for initial screening, followed by Roth's 28 Hue test for confirmation and classification of CVD.
• Included 303 consenting first-cycle medical students, measuring distant visual acuity and performing color vision tests.

Main Results:

• A total of 303 students (50.8% male, 49.2% female) with a mean age of 20.2 years participated.
• Five students (1.6%) initially failed the Ishihara's test.
• The Roth's 28 Hue test confirmed CVD in 4 students, establishing a prevalence of 1.3%, with equal proportions of protan and deutan types.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of CVD among first-cycle medical students at the University of Yaoundé I is low (1.3%).
• Despite low prevalence, routine CVD screening is advised for medical students.
• Screening can raise awareness and aid students in selecting appropriate medical specializations based on their vision status.