Objectives: To assess the prevalence of refractive errors in women of different age groups.
Subject & Methods: This was a prospective study being carried out on a subject sample size of 150 women, in the age group of 15-60 years divided into 3 groups to assess refractive status in different phases of female life. Group-1 comprising of 50 females in 15-30 years range. Group-2 comprising of 50 females in 31-45 years range. Group-3 comprising of 50 females in 46-60 years range, Subjects were picked up at random from the students, staff and patients attending Bhaskar General Hospital. The subjects were explained about the implication of the study in their own language and a written consent was taken on a prescribed pro forma fulfilling all the norms of ethics.
Results: The subjects were evaluated for visual acuity assessment by Snellen’s chart and Lendolt’s E charts for literates and illiterates respectively. Ocular examination was done for assessing ocular health. Later the subjects were submitted to objective assessment for correction of refractive errors and prescribed spectacles with motivation to use it. Objective assessment is done by retinoscopy under mydriasis to achieve best corrected vision. Data was subjected to Statistical analysis by paired T test .
Conclusion: This study involves women from different backgrounds of life and it was observed that all the 3 age groups of subjects suffered from refractive errors, but the prevalence of Myopia was significantly higher among group-1, consisting of women ranging from 15-30yrs, Similarly the incidence and prevalence of Presbyopia was higher amongst the group-2 and group-3 women.