Prevalence of Myopia and Its Related Factors Among University Students in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Myopia, a common refractive error, is a growing global health burden influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Despite its high prevalence, studies on its prevalence and risk factors among university students are lacking. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of myopia and its associated factors among college students in Saudi Arabia's Madinah region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia, from February to June 2023, utilizing a survey that was distributed to college students through a social media application. Results: A total of 433 university students from Al-Madinah province were enrolled in this study; 66.3% were females and 33.7% were males. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 33 years with a mean of 21.3 +/- 2.0 years. The prevalence of myopia among college students in Al-Madinah and its provinces was 57.3%, and 87.9% of them had myopia in both eyes. Respondents with an electronic screen time of more than three hours and a reading distance of less than 15cm were at significant risk of myopia with p-values of 0.037 and 0.019, respectively. Conclusions: A significant prevalence of myopia has been observed among university students in Madinah. Studying in scientific and medical fields, having eye diseases, prolonged use of digital devices, limiting daily outdoor activities to one hour, and having a reading distance of less than 15 cm significantly increased the risk of myopia. Encouraging education and screening programs for myopia prevention and control is crucial.