Effect of Prolonged Reading on Visual Fatigue Among Law Students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Law students are among the most reading-intensive academic groups, often spending several hours daily engaged in close-range tasks that can contribute to significant visual fatigue. This study investigates the effect of prolonged reading on visual fatigue among law students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, situated in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical study design will be employed, with 350 students recruited from the Faculty of Law using stratified random sampling. Baseline visual acuity and accommodative amplitude will be measured before and after a controlled two-hour reading session. Subjective symptoms of visual fatigue will be assessed using the Visual Fatigue Scale. Questionnaires will capture daily reading habits, screen exposure duration, lighting conditions, and the presence of pre-existing refractive errors. Data will be analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis. The study expects to demonstrate statistically significant reductions in accommodative amplitude and increases in subjective fatigue scores following the reading session, with worse outcomes among students with uncorrected refractive errors. Recommendations will be made regarding reading ergonomics, lighting optimization, and the role of periodic vision breaks for academically intensive students. This study contributes to optometric research in occupational and academic settings in Nigeria's North West zone, offering a student-centered framework for understanding and managing near work-induced visual fatigue in university environments. Keywords: visual fatigue, prolonged reading, law students, Ahmadu Bello University, accommodative stress