Prevalence of Refractive Errors among Primary School Children at Omdurman Locality

Abstract

Abstract Preface: Refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) affect the whole spectnim of the population irrespective of age, gender, and race. Such refractive errors can be easily diagnosed, measured and corrected with glasses or other refractive corrections to attain nonnal vision. Aims: this study aimed to find out the prevalence of the refractive error among primary school pupil at Omdurman locality. Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross sectional study, a total of 3014 subjects (6028 eyes) were screened consecutively studied in a period from March to June 2016 at Omdurman locality, Sudan. A total of 1510 (49.6%) were males and 1522 (50.4%) were females their age ranged between 6-15 with a mean of 10.25i2.63 years. Visual acuity examined using Snellen’s chart and refractive state was measured using autorefractometer, measurements of binocular abnormalities were taken using cover test and outer eye examined carried using Torch and loop. Data analyzed using SPSS software for windows (IBM SPSS 16, IBM Corp., Annonk, NY). Results: Eighty nine percent of total pupils had best unaided visual acuity of 1.0 (6/6) in right eye and left eye. The study revealed a significant improvement of vision that achieved after correction in right eye reached 1.0 (6/6) in 202 (6.7%) pupils and LE 212 (7%) (t -25.1 P 0.000) (r 0.495 P< 0.001), 10% ofthe pupil had refractive errors, 9% suffering from eye diseases, 14% of the pupils had binocular anomalies Spearman‘s correlation (r -0.262 P <0.001). Conclusion: Refractive errors among pupils are a common problem in school age children and they should be screened at least once in their stay in the elementary school. Keywords: Visual acuity, refractive error, binocular anomalies, primary school children.