Survey of relationship between occupational factors and refractive errors

Introduction . Refrective errors are the most frequent causes of poor vision. Physicians are often asked about the casual relation of near tasks with refractive errors. On time diagnosis and proper management of refractive errors prevents amblyopia and poor vision. In this study, the relationship between occupational factors and refractive errors in individuals of 10 to 30 years old was investigated. Materials and Methods. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Refractive errors of 300 patients between 10-30 years of age who were refered to opthalmic clinic of Amiralmomenin hospital during the first six months of 1996 were evaluated. Result. Among 300 patients, 143 were women and 157 were men. 201 individuals were myopic, 86 hyperopic and 13 astigmatic. 45% of patients were school children and their most refractive error was myopia (67%). There was a significant relationship between age and refractive error as follows: from 10 to 25 years, myopia cases increased and hyperopia decreased and after 25 years, this situation reversed. There was also a significant direct relation between higher education and refractive error. Conclusion. The results show that individuals who have higher education and whom need more near vision for their work such as school children, college students and employees suffer more from myopia.