Refractive error changes in law students

Abstract

We report two separate studies: a retrospective survey and a longitudinal study; both were designed to assess the changes in refractive error of a group of young adult law students. The retrospective survey compared the previous spectacle correction to the current refractive error in the ocular examination records of 87 members of the class of 1982 law students who were examined at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. Forty-one students (47.1% of the sample, 12.9% of the entire class of 318) increased at least -0.50D in myopia in at least one eye. In the longitudinal study, we followed 16 first year law students for 6 months, measuring refractive error. Five eyes (15.6%) became at least +0.50D more hyperopic, and 12 eyes (37.5%) became at least -0.50D more myopic. These data represent analysis of a small number of eyes over a short period of time. An adult myopic shift is nonetheless evident. A methodology for accumulation of more meaningful data on the specific ocular component changes responsible for this effect is discussed.