PREVALENCE OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AN URBAN SETUP: A PROSPECTIVE AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

RAJINDER SINGH; SURINDER KAUR; HARBIR KAUR; JATIN THUKRAL

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2022.v15i7.44718

Authors

RAJINDER SINGH Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1411-6760
SURINDER KAUR Department of Pedodontics, Government Dental College, Patiala, Punjab, India.
HARBIR KAUR MBBS Student, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India.
JATIN THUKRAL MBBS Student, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2022.v15i7.44718

Keywords:

Prevalance, Refractive errors, Myopia, Hypermetropia, Astigmatism, Urban School Children

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of refractive errors and their types by their age, sex, and class among the students of secondary school in an urban area of state of Punjab, North India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on a total of 1545 school children, aged between 10 and 16 years studying in 6th–10th class. Sample size included 822 males and 723 females. Snellen’s distant test types and self-illuminated streak retinoscope were used for this study.

Results: Cumulative prevalence of refractive errors was found to be 35.21% among the students. The distribution among the type of refractive errors was: Myopia – 65.07%, Hypermetropia – 14.89%, and Astigmatism – 20.04%. The prevalence among the male and female students was 34.91% and 35.55%, respectively.

Conclusion: This study supports the screening of school children for visual acuity and their refractive errors so that they can be identified to improve their quality of life at present and also to prevent any long-term visual disability.

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Author Biographies

RAJINDER SINGH, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India.

Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India.

HARBIR KAUR, MBBS Student, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India.

MBBS Batch 2016, Government Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India (Topper -Baba Farid University of Health Sciences)

JATIN THUKRAL, MBBS Student, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India.

MBBS Batch 2016, Government Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India (Winner: National Medical Quiz, Global Healthcare Summit 2022)

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