By Alecx Kriz A. Fajardo, student of the Master in Clinical Optometry and Hearing Therapy

Abstract

This research report investigated the prevalence of under-corrected refractive error and the magnitude of the prescription gap among university students evaluated at the Centro Escolar University Vision and Eye Care Center. The study employed a quantitative, retrospective record review to determine the adequacy of students’ current optical interventions. Data were gathered from 200 archived clinical records of tertiary students aged 17 to 26 years. The study compared habitual spectacle prescriptions, verified via lensometry, against true refractive requirements determined through clinical manifest refraction. A prescription gap was operationalized as a Spherical Equivalent (SE) difference strictly greater than 0.50 Diopters or an independent visual acuity improvement of at least one line (≥ 0.1 logMAR) on a digital chart. The results revealed that 54.00% of the sample wore under-corrected spectacles. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed a statistically significant discrepancy between habitual and manifest refractions (p < 0.001). Notably, while the mean dioptric gap was mathematically modest (0.375 D), 63.50% of students were systematically under-minused, and 46.00% achieved clinically meaningful visual acuity improvements with a new prescription. These findings suggest that many university student patients were wearing spectacle prescriptions that differed from their current refractive status, potentially affecting visual performance during academically demanding activities.

Keywords: under-corrected refractive error, prescription gap, university students, spherical equivalent, visual acuity, retrospective review

Download the full Research Work: Fajardo, A. K. A. (2026). Prevalence of Under corrected Refractive Error and Prescription. Gaps Among University Students A Retrospective Research Report. SAERA