Prevalence and Patterns of Refractive Errors Among Nubian and Non-Nubian Adults in South Egypt

Background: Refractive errors are regarded as a public health challenge; being the most common eye condition resulting from discrepancies in the cornea, lens, and axial length of the eye's focusing power and affecting all age groups. Refractive error is the leading cause of vision impairment contributing to 123.7 million cases of moderate to severe distance vision impairment or blindness. Intricate interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors result in refractive errors. Prevalence, pattern and degree of refractive errors were proved by many studies to be affected by racial and ethnic variations. Nubians differ culturally and ethnically from other Egyptians. Nubians are an ethnic group indigenous to the region which is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Purpose: The present study aims to detect the prevalence and patterns of different refractive errors among Nubian and non- Nubian adults in South Egypt. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study that was carried out in randomly selected Nubian and non-Nubian districts. The study included 1820 adult individuals. They were divided into two groups (910 persons each) representing Nubian and non-Nubians adults in south Egypt. Following standard ophthalmic examination, autorefraction under mydriatics was done. Data was collected and tabulated Results: Overall prevalence of refractive errors was 63.4% among South Egyptian. Refractive Errors were found in 66.5% of Nubians and in 60.2% of non- Nubians. Astigmatism existed in 56.3% of patients with no significant difference between both groups. Nubians were significantly more hyperopic and less myopic than non-Nubians (p<0.001). Amblyopia was presented in 4.3% of participants and anisometropia in 3.7% which was significantly higher in non- Nubians (p =0.002). Conclusion: Nubians exhibit a higher prevalence of overall refractive errors compared to the non- Nubians, with a marked tendency towards hyperopia.