title: Epidemiologic study of myopia in a population of schoolchildren in Tunisia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uncorrected refractive error has recently been identified as the leading cause of visual impairment in children worldwide. The prevalence of myopia is increasing. Determination of the epidemiology of myopia is important to develop screening strategy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to estimate the prevalence and the degree of severity of myopia among primary schoolchildren in Tunisia and to assess its effect on school performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random cluster design was used to recruit children from primary schools across urban and rural settings in Tunisia, during 2009 to 2012. A total of 6192 students aged 6 to 14 years old were enrolled. Students with visual acuity of 9/10 or worse underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, and cycloplegic autorefraction was used to determine refractive error. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent (SE) of - 0.50 dioptre (D) or worse. We also searched for a possible relation between uncorrected myopia and academic failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of myopia was 3.71%. Mean and SD of spherical equivalent was -3,10 ± 0,86 D. The myopia rate increased significantly with age (p=0.04), but was not significantly related to gender (p=0.823). There was no significant association between the student's area of residence and myopia (p=0.932). 85.21% of myopic students experienced unsatisfactory academic performances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study reveals the prevalence of myopia among schoolchildren in Tunisia. The high rate of academic failure in myopic schoolchildren emphasizes an unmet need for its screening and its correction.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Chebil
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Jedidi
authors: Nibrass
authors: N
authors: Chaker
authors: Fedra
authors: F
authors: Kort
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Largueche
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: El Matri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology