A cross-sectional study on the burden of visual and hearing impairment using WHO eyes and hear WHOpro applications among professional degree college students, Bengaluru Urban.

Abstract

WHOEyes and hearWHO application free, population-based mobile software application that checks visual acuity and hearing loss.

Objectives: to find out the burden of visual and hearing impairment among professional degree college students using the WHOeyes and hearWHOpro in Bengaluru.

Methodology: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among selected Professional degree college students of Bengaluru urban in the first quarter of 2024. The sample size calculated was 172.

Results: However, 156 (88.6%) in the left eye and 161 (91.5%) in the right eye had no visual impairment. 13 (7.5%), 9 (5.1%) and 7 (3.9%), 6 (3.4%) had mild and moderate distant visual impairment in the left and right eye, respectively according to WHOeyes scores. 96% had a normal near vision, 3.4% had mild and 0.6% had moderate near vision impairment. 63 (35.8%) subjects had some degree of hearing loss, 110 (62.5%) subjects checked their hearing regularly (once a year), and only 3 (1.7%) subjects had good hearing.

Conclusion: The majority of the subjects had normal visual acuity and a majority of subjects had some degree of hearing loss using the WHOeyes and hearWHOpro scores. The visual acuity and hearing loss were higher in those exposed to increased screen time and loud noise while using personalized digital devices.