title: [Prevalence of refractive errors in 7 and 8 year-old children in the province of Western Pomerania].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of refractive errors in 7 and 8 year-old schoolchildren in the province of Western Pomerania.
  
  
  METHODS
  140 pupils of elementary schools were examined. Measurements of visual acuity and retinoscopy after cycloplegia were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism was 76.1%, 3.3% and 5.1%, respectively. No statistically significant differences between 7 and 8 year-old children were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. There is a relatively high prevalence of refractive errors, with hyperopia prevailing, among 7 and 8 year-old schoolchildren. 2. Myopia in young children is a cause for concern an further studies. 3. High prevalence of refractive errors in children calls for systematic examination and focused interviewing by medical professionals of the school health care system.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Higieny i Epidemiologii PAM al. Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szezecin.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muszyńska-Lachota
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Czepita
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: uczyńska
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wysiecki
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000639:trends; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data