<![CDATA[Medical students face a higher risk of developing myopia because their academic demands require extensive reading and frequent interaction with electronic devices. This study aimed to analyze the association between near-work habits, namely book reading, mobile phone/tablet use, and computer/laptop use, and the severity of myopia among medical students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang (UNIMUS). This analytical observational study used a cross-sectional design involving 85 respondents with myopia, recruited through consecutive sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Near-work habits were assessed through a structured questionnaire covering reading/screen distance, duration, and lighting, while myopia severity was determined through visual acuity examination using a Snellen chart and trial lenses. The association between variables was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test. Most respondents showed good habits in book reading (38; 44.7%), mobile phone/tablet use (39; 45.9%), and computer/laptop use (41; 48.2%), and most had mild myopia (56; 65.9%). All three near-work habits were significantly associated with myopia severity (p<0.001 for each variable). These findings indicate that poorer near-work habits, namely shorter viewing distance, longer duration, and dim lighting, are associated with more severe myopia among medical students. Healthy near-work habits and regular visual screening should therefore be promoted among medical students to help prevent myopia progression.]]>
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