ABSTRACT
To determine the patterns [Frequency and types] of refractive errors, affecting different age groups of our population and to suggest glasses for huge functional improvement of individuals. Descriptive Study. This conducted at Independent University Hospital Faisalabad in collaboration with Allied Hospital [Punjab Medical College] Faisalabad from 15 March 2010 to 31 March 2011. Patients of all age groups presented in Eye OPD with the complaint of visual acuity having less than 6/12, were underwent history and detailed examination [Including retinoscopy, autorefraction and cycloplegic refraction in children less than 8 years]. Patients with corneal opacity, glaucoma, penetrating trauma, cataract,aphakia, macular or retinal diseases were excluded. Out of 8215 OPD patients 658 [8%] had refractive error. Mean age was 31 years. Age varied from 5 to 66 years. New patients were 533[81%], while patients required refinement of refraction, were 125 [19%]. Individuals up to the age of 15 years were 119 [18.08%], between 16 to 29 years were 196 [29.79%], 30 to 40 years were 151 [22.95%] and above 40 years were 192 [29.17%]. It was found that male were 260 [39.51%] while female 398 [60.49%]. Myopia was 381 [57.90%] hypermetropia was 122 [18.54%] while astigmatism was 155 [23.56%]. Myopic astigmatism was 114 [17.33%] and hyperopic ttendance was 41 [6.23%].All individuals showed improvement with glasses. Refractive error is very common in our population. Female are affected'more commonly than males. Myopia is more frequent. Astigmatism also affects almost every fifth patient with refractive error