ABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence rates of refractive errors in Mashhad, Iran. In this population-based study, random cluster sampling was performed on the urban population of Mashhad and of 4453 selected individuals, 70.4% participated in the study. Refractive errors were assessed using cycloplegic refraction in participants who were 15 years of age. The prevalence of myopia and hyperopia in individuals 15 years of age was 22.36% [95% CI: 24.66 to 20.06] and 34.21% [95 CI: 36.85 to 31.57], respectively. The prevalence of astigmatism and anisometropia were 25.64% and 5.84, respectively. Astigmatism and anisometropia were significantly more [p=0.005] and less [p=0.048] prevalent in females, respectively. Anisometropia, astigmatism and hyperopia were found to be increased with age. This study highlighted the valuable information on refractive errors in Mashhad. Hyperopia was the most common refractive error. In addition to subjects who were between 5 to 15 years of age, refractive errors were also prevalent among older people; therefore, more attention should be paid to the correction of refractive errors in these groups