A study on refractive errors among school children in Kolkata.
Childhood visual impairment due to refractive errors is a significant problem in school children and has a considerable impact on public health. To assess the magnitude of the problem the present study was undertaken among the school children aged 5 to 10 years in Kolkata. Detailed ophthalmological examination was carried out in the schools as well as in the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata. Among 2317 students examined, 582 (25.11%) were suffering from refractive errors, myopia being the commonest (n = 325; 14.02%). Astigmatism affected 91 children (3.93%). There is an increase of prevalence of refractive errors with increase of age, but it is not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There is also no significant difference of refractive errors between boys and girls.
Das
Angshuman
A
Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Medical College, Kolkata 700073.
Dutta
Himadri
H
Bhaduri
Gautam
G
De Sarkar
Ajay
A
Sarkar
Krishnendu
K
Bannerjee
Manas
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students