DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2025.v13i10.001

Pages: 1702-1707

Background: Refractive errors (REs) are one of the most important causes of visual impairment globally and are affected by demographic and socioeconomic determinants. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of refractive errors and their association with demographic factors. Methods & materials: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, TMSS Medical College & Rafatullah Community Hospital, located in Bogura, Bangladesh from July 2024 to June 2025. Total 300 participants presented for a routine or symptomatic ocular examination were recruited. Result: Mean age was 25.6 ± 8.1 years with a slight female predominance (53.3%). The most common comorbidity was hypertension (25% and 23.3% had a family history of refractive errors. Myopia was most prevalent among participants aged 15–19 years (37.5%), whereas hyperopia was more frequently observed in the older age groups. Astigmatism was relatively evenly distributed across all age categories, ranging from 25.0% to 33.3%. Emmetropia was observed in approximately one-quarter of participants across most age groups. Age distribution of refractive errors was statistically significant (p = 0.041). Refractive errors were not significantly associated with sex (p = 0.78). Conclusion: This study reveals a significant burden of refractive errors among young adults. Hyperopia was more frequent in older participants, while astigmatism was evenly distributed across ages. Age showed a significant association with refractive error patterns, but sex did not demonstrate any notable relationship.