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Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
Year : 2019, Volume : 10, Issue : 9
First page : ( 123) Last page : ( 127)
Print ISSN : 0976-0245. Online ISSN : 0976-5506.
Article DOI : 10.5958/0976-5506.2019.02412.4

Study of Family History and Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Refractive Errors in Urban School Children Aged Between 10 to 17 Years

Sugumaran K.E. Asvini1, Devasena M. Meera Alias2,*

1Final Year Post Graduate, Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Porur, Chennai

2Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Porur, Chennai

*Corresponding Author: Dr. M. Meera Alias Devasena, D.O., DNB., Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Porur, Chennai-600116. Mobile: 9500199723, Email: meeradevasena@yahoo.in

Online published on 13 November, 2019.

Abstract

Purpose

The main aim of this study was to collect information regarding the family history and environmental risk factors associated with refractive error and the prevalence of refractive error in urban school children aged between 10 to 17 years.

Study Design

Cross Sectional Study

Method

After getting permission from school Principal and consent from parents, children from class 5 to 12 were included in this study. The unaided visual acuity of each child is assessed with snellen's number. Visual acuity less than 6/9 in one or both eyes was classified as visually impaired. Cycloplegic refraction and subjective refraction was done to all visually impaired children. Details about environmental factors, time spent to reading, watching television, using electronic gadgets and outdoor sports were collected by questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were done by SPSS-16.0 for windows software.

Results

This cross sectional study was done among 1680 school children aged between 10 to 18 years. Among that 407 children had refractive error. The prevalence of refractive error was 24.2%. The prevalence of refractive error in males was 58.7% and in females was 41.2%. Among the type of refractive error, the commonest was myopia (261) followed by astigmatism (126) and Hypermetropia (20). Among the risk factors studied, reading books, viewing television, electronic gadgets had a statistically significant association to the prevalence of refractive error.

Conclusions

Awareness has to be created among the children, parents and school teachers about the signs and symptoms and the risk factors involved in the development of refractive error. Regular school eye screening programme should be conducted to identify and correct the refractive error and to emphasize the importance of wearing correcting spectacles for refractive error regularly to prevent and avoid childhood blindness

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Keywords

Prevalence, Refractive errors, Urban School Children, Myopia, Risk Factors.

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