The Prevalence, Demographic Profile and Awareness of Myopia Among High School Students in Southeastern Bangladesh: A...

To determine the prevalence, pattern, and sociodemographic factors associated with myopia among high school students in Chattogram district, Bangladesh.

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2025 among students aged 11-17 years (Classes VI-IX) selected through multistage stratified sampling from four public and private schools in urban and rural areas of Chattogram. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and ophthalmic assessment. Visual acuity was measured using a Snellen chart at 6 meters, and noncycloplegic objective refraction was performed using a streak retinoscope. Data were analyzed using Stata (version 17, StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA).

A total of 732 students participated (mean age 13.58 ± 1.44 years) in the study. The overall prevalence of myopia was 24.18% (95% CI: 21.21%-27.42%). Myopia was significantly more prevalent among urban students (41.98%) compared to rural students (12.30%) (p < 0.001), and among private school students (28.50%) compared to public school students (19.36%) (p = 0.004). In multivariable analysis, urban residence (adjusted OR = 6.25; 95% CI: 4.13-9.45) and private school attendance (adjusted OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.57-4.10) are independently associated with myopia. Awareness regarding myopia, its symptoms, and preventive strategies was notably low among students. Less than 10% of participants were aware of the role of outdoor activities and practiced eye care measures such as the 20-20-20 rule.

Myopia affects nearly one in four high school students in Chattogram, with significantly higher prevalence in urban and private school settings. Limited awareness regarding preventive strategies highlights the need for structured school-based vision screening and health education programs to address the growing burden of myopia among adolescents.