title: Prevalence and risk factors of vision impairment among children of employees of Telecom, Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of vision impairment (VI) in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, relatives of Association for Supplemental Health Insurance to the Employees of Telecom members aged 5-16 years were examined in all Italian regions. A standardized record card was used to collect data on medical history; keratometry; objective refraction; uncorrected, presenting, and best-corrected visual acuity (VA); examination of the pupils, adnexa, and anterior segment; direct ophthalmoscopy; posterior segment and fundus examination; and assessment for ocular pathology. Binocular and monocular VI were defined by a VA &lt;5/10 (or &lt;20/40).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The campaign included 17,508 children, 12,798 of whom (73.1%) were examined (and 12,740 on whom all VA data were gathered). The prevalence of uncorrected, presenting, and best-corrected VI in the better eye was 9.0%, 2.51%, and 0.10%, respectively. The following variables were associated with presenting VI: age 10-16 years, family history of myopia, female sex, family history of keratoconus, and hypertension. Myopia is the main cause of VI (82.6%). A total of 96% of children with presenting VI had correctable VI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correctable VI because of myopia is an important public health problem in school-age children in Italy.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila - Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cofini
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cecilia
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University G d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti - Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ciciarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zazzara
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cedrone
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila - Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: di Orio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013685:Telecommunications; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*