PREVALENCE OF VISUAL MORBIDITY IN URBAN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN WESTERN INDIA

Abstract

Background and objectives: Pediatric ophthalmology is not yet well established as a separate subspecialty in India in most eye care programs. Six percent to seven percent children aged 10-14 years have problems with their eyesight affecting their learning in India. Present cross-sectional study assesses prevalence and pattern of eye diseases among school-going children aged 6-14 years.
Material and Methods: Three schools from each of the ten wards of the city were selected by simple random sampling method. Then, 60 children in the age group of 6-14 years from each of the selected school were selected with simple random sampling. In all we studied 1722 children. All children received eye examination by an Ophthalmology Resident.
Results: The overall prevalence of various eye problems in the school children on examination was 14.8%. Refractive error was found to be the commonest ocular morbidity (78%), followed by squint (5%) and Vitamin A deficiency (4%) amongst the ones having morbidity.
Conclusion and Recommendation: As Refractive error was found to be the primary ocular morbidity, it is concluded that school children can be helped by regular eye checkups, for most conditions are easily treatable if not fully preventable.