Deepa Ajitkumar1 , Anand V. Deshpande2 , Jayshree Pradhan3 , Chitra Sunov4
BACKGROUND Uncorrected Refractive Errors (REs) are a major cause of visual impairment in children resulting in poor academic performance and increased school dropouts. Children with refractive errors, even if small, suffer from visual strain and consequently perform poorly at school. There are only a few studies carried out in India in this age group. The purpose of this study is to provide a framework for assessment and correction of ocular morbidity in pre-school children. We wanted to assess the magnitude of the problem of refractive errors and other ocular morbidity in pre-primary school children in the age group of 4 - 7 years. METHODS This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at one of Central India’s industrial towns among 2000 children attending pre-primary school in the age group of 4 - 7 years. Children were screened by ophthalmologists. The examination included visual acuity measurements, ocular motility evaluation, cover uncover test and colour vision test. Children with defective vision were subjected to dilated retinoscopy and fundus examination. The pattern and distribution of visual acuity, its impairment, and any accompanying visual morbidity were studied. Refractive errors such as myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism were defined as correction equivalent to or more than - 0.5 diopter (- 0.5 D), + 0.5 D and ± 0.5D respectively in children with reduced visual acuity. Amblyopia was defined as non-improvement or reduced visual acuity (< 6 / 9) with optical correction without any organic cause. Statistical analysis was done using percentage analysis using Epi Info software version 7. RESULTS A total of 2000 children from kindergarten were examined out of which 1126 were male and 874 were females. Refractive error was found in 146 students. Hypermetropia was found in 70, myopia in 50 and 12 had amblyopia. Apart from refractive errors, other ocular morbidities found in our study included colour vision defect (1 %), squint (0.5 %), eyelid diseases like blepharitis, stye, conjunctival diseases like allergic conjunctivitis and traumatic mydriasis of the iris. CONCLUSIONS Ocular morbidities noted included refractive errors (7.3 %), colour vision defects, squint, eyelid diseases and allergic conjunctivitis. Many of these are causes of correctable blindness and remedial measures taken on time will go a long way to reduce the burden of disease.
