Prevalence of astigmatism among students in Northern Greece

• Published in: European journal of ophthalmology Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: MANDALOS, A. T, PEIOS, D. K, MAVRACANAS, T. A, GOLIAS, V. A, MEGALOU, K. G, DELIDOU, K. A, GREGORIADOU, A. C, KATSOUGIANNOPOULOS, B. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milano Wichtig 2002
• Subjects: Adolescent; Astigmatism - epidemiology; Astigmatism - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Genetics; Greece - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Ophthalmology; Prevalence; Sex Distribution; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vision disorders; Greece; Europe; Human; Prevalence; Vision disorder; Sex; Student; Epidemiology; Eye disease; Refractive error; Adolescent; Young adult; North; Inheritance(genetics); Astigmatism
• ISSN: 1120-6721; 1724-6016
• DOI: 10.1177/112067210201200101

PURPOSETo assess the prevalence of astigmatism in a sample of 1738 students (15-18 years old) from Northern Greece.METHODSCollection of the sample was based on a questionnaire method. Statistical analysis included estimation of the prevalence of astigmatism and the distribution of students according to their cylindrical values. We also checked whether heredity or sex affected the occurrence of astigmatism.RESULTSThe prevalence of astigmatism was 10.2%. It was mostly at low levels, up to 2 D cyl. Females ran a significantly higher risk of astigmatism than males, and heredity seemed to be an important predisposing factor for this refractive error.CONCLUSIONSThere is considerable variability in the prevalence of astigmatism worldwide, as indicated by different studies. However, this refractive error prevails at low levels in the Greek student population, compared with other countries.