Fixation disparity and refractive error among first-year optometry students.

Purpose: To determine the fixation disparity and refractive error of first-year optometry students to ascertain any relationship between them and also identify any association between fixation disparity and visual symptoms at near.

Method: It was an analytical cross-sectional study involving 85 participants aged 17 to 27 years (18.60 ± 1.37), 41% of whom were males. Subjective refraction was done at 3 m and fixation disparity was measured with and without spectacle correction using the Wesson Fixation Disparity Card. All analysis was set within a 95% confidence interval with a p-value ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Refractive error ranged from 0.25 SEQ (spherical equivalent) to 5.50 SEQ. Mean fixation disparity ranged from 2.9 ± 2.6 to 3.9 ± 2.8 min arc. There was no statistically significant correlation between refractive error and fixation disparity without correction (r = -0.180, p = 0.098) and with correction (r = 0.155, p = 0.157). For fixation disparity in the ortho and exo direction, mean fixation disparity with correction of participants who experienced headaches during or after reading (5.1 ± 2.6 min arc) was significantly higher (p = 0.032) than participants who did not (2.0 ± 2.6 min arc).

Conclusion: Myopia is common among first-year optometry students. Refractive error has no significant effect on fixation disparity. Headache is significantly associated with exo fixation disparity at near.