title: Study of Disorders of Visual Acuity among Adolescent School Children in Pune.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disorders of visual acuity are known to affect the learning abilities of school children. Various authors have reported varying prevalence in India and abroad.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rapid, community based survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of disorders of visual acuity among adolescent school children in three schools in Pune Cantonment. A sample of 236 children studying in six sections were examined after random selection by a two stage sampling technique ensuring representation to each of the classes. Visual acuity was assessed for all the children available in the selected section on the date of survey. A questionnaire based study of the knowledge and attitude of the parents of the 50 affected children was also conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  50 children (25 males and 25 females) were found to have errors of refraction, resulting in prevalence rate of 21.19% with confidence intervals of 15.97% to 26.40%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights significantly high prevalence of uncorrected errors of visual acuity among adolescent school children as well as the need for instituting IEC activities aimed at improving the general lack of appreciation of the seriousness of the problem by the parents and consequent neglect of urgent corrective measures.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, AFMC Pune-411040.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.affiliation: Medical Officer, MH, Dehradun.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: Lecturer (Statistics and Demography), AFMC Pune-411040.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Patrikar
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head (Department of Community Medicine & PSM), AFMC Pune-411040.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhalwar
keywords: Adolescent school children; Visual defects