Ocular morbidity among students in relation to classroom illumination levels

Objective: This cross-sectional study was done to find the prevalence of eye strain and other ocular morbidities among students in Udupi, Karnataka. Methods: The study protocol included interview, visual acuity examination using Snellen chart, and measuring classroom illumination through lux meter. Results: 26% students had visual morbidity and the most prevalent symptoms of eyestrain were headache (38.6%), watering of eyes (25.7%), pain around eyes (15.6%) and blurred vision (11.9%). 55.5% classrooms and 88.4% blackboards did not have proper illumination. Conclusion: Low classroom illumination levels may be a possible factor for development of visual morbidity.