title: A study on refractive errors among school children in Kolkata.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Medical College, Kolkata 700073.
authors.forename: Angshuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Himadri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhaduri
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Sarkar
authors.forename: Krishnendu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Manas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bannerjee
mesh_terms: 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