Refractive errors among young adults and university students in Norway.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was initiated to compare the refractive state in a population sample to that among university students in Norway and to that among the general population in other Nordic countries. METHODS: A population sample of 112 individuals and 224 engineering students were randomly selected and examined using automated and clinical refraction in cycloplegia. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in prevalences of myopia (population sample 33%, students 47%, p 0.016) and prevalences of hyperopia (population sample 47%, students 30%, p 0.001) between the two groups. The mean refractive error among the population sample was -0.1+/-2.0 D compared to -0.6+/-2.2 D among the students (p=0.0013). CONCLUSIONS: The population sample had a significantly lower prevalence of myopia and a higher prevalence of hyperopia than the student population. The state of refraction in the population sample was found to be in agreement with results reported from other Nordic countries.