The observed epidemiology of refractive errors seen over a generation, fuelled by environmental changes namely stress and time spent in education, wherein the student population group requires considerable attention.This studies prevalence rates of various refractive errors occurring among college students of North India and to comparatively evaluate with respect to education stream, gender, religion and type of diet, 1200 (400 medical, 400 engineering and 400 arts) students aged 17-22 years from different colleges were interviewed regarding their diet, religion, and education stream, personal and family history of any medical or ocular disease. Visual acuity of all the students was assessed by Snellen and Jaegers charts and refractive errors were measured by cycloplegic refraction. The prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism were calculated. Results were analyzed by chi2 test and P values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. It was found that the prevalence of refractive errors varies with gender and education stream, but not with religion and type of diet. Myopia was most prevalent refractive error in college students, 37.6% students have myopia, 3.58% astigmatism and 0.33 % hyperopia. Also statistically significantly higher prevalence of myopia was found in medical students as compared to other education streams (Myopia was significantly higher in medical (71.25%) as compared to engineering (28.25%)&arts students (13.5%)).No significant difference of myopia prevalence was found with respect to gender, religion or type of diet. Astigmatic prevalence was not significantly different in medical and engineering students but both medical and engineering students have significantly higher astigmatic prevalence as compared to arts students. Astigmatism was also significantly higher in females as compared to males. Highest myopia prevalence in medical students justifies that deteriorating vision is an occupational hazard for medical students.
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