Posters

magnitude of visual impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors among schoolchildren, Jazan Province

Poster Details

First Author: I.Abuallut GERMANY

Co Author(s):    A. Mohanna                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To detect the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors among schoolchildren. To detect the pattern of significant refractive errors. to assess the risk of Amblyopia

Setting:

primary school children in Jazan region in the southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Methods:

examined students ranging between six to fourteen (6_14) years. With the help of the list of students available through the education departments in the region, random sampling technique. inclusion criteria which are students those without glasses.

Results:

A total of 1,798 children aged between 6 and 14 years old were included in the study, their mean age was 9.74 ± 1.802 years. For the right eye, more than half (59.0%) of our participated children were emmetrop, 17.6% were myope, and 23.4% were hyperopia, while for the left eye 58.2% were emmetrop, 16.9% were myope, and 25.0% were hyperopia. The results revealed a statistical correlation between occurrence of astig- matism and myope (p < 0.001). With regard to hyperopia, 317 (62.5%) of those who were hyperopia suffered from astigmatism. We also found a statistically significant correlation between occurrence of astigmatism and hyperopia (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between astigmatism and refraction errors in right eye (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of the uncorrected refractive errors in students was not low in this study. Girls, myopes, and cases of astigmatism showed high rates of uncorrected refractive errors, and it is important that they receive attention. Correcting these errors can help prevent visual impairment at young ages. Identifying uncorrected refractive errors should be among priorities of the health system, specially for students.

Financial Disclosure:

None