Refractive errors among young adults and university students in Norway

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.