Magnitude of Prevalence of Refractive Errors in School-age Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: To determine the frequency of refractive errors in school-age children. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and duration: Two Government and two Private schools of Hyderabad Sindh, screened by the institute of ophthalmology at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, from January 2021 to June 2021. Methodology: Schools and students were selected by stratified random method; a total of four hundred students were screened in four schools. From class one to class ten, 10 students were selected from each class. Prior written permission was obtained from parents. External ocular examination, visual acuity, pinhole test, autorefraction, and fundus examination were done and recorded on proforma along with the information regarding age, sex, family history, and parent’s education. The data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: In government schools 27 students out of 200 had refractive errors, myopia was present in 15 (55.55%) students, hypermetropia in 7 (25.93%) students and astigmatism in 5 (18.52%) students, while in private schools 25 students had refractive errors. Myopia was present in 16 (64%) students, hypermetropia in 7 (28%) students and astigmatism in 2 (8%) students. Myopia and astigmatism were more prevalent in female sex being 8.1% and 2% respectively, while in males it was 6.4% and 1.4% cases. In this study, no significant refractive error difference was found between government and private sector schools. Conclusion: In our study, the prevalence of refractive errors was 13% (52) out of 400 students. Refractive errors are the most common and easily treatable causes of decreased vision in school-aged children. It is recommended that visual acuity be checked prior to admission to school because refractive errors can be easily corrected with glasses. If it is treated in time, the child can be prevented from amblyopia and squint.