DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i04.067

Pages: 1708-1711

Refractive Errors are one of the avoidable causes of blindness and low vision. Timely detection of these problems and their correction by spectacles can tremendously improve the child’s potential during his formative years. Current study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of various types of refractive errors and possible risk factors responsible for refractive errors in Indian school going children. A total of 2140 school children were examined for refractive errors. The mean age of the children screened for refractive errors was 12.76 +/- 1.89 years. Of them 55.6% were females and 44.4% were males. The overall prevalence of refractive errors was 9.9%. The prevalence of refractive errors was more in the private school children (15.9%) compared to Government school children (4.6%) and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Out of 38 children with refractive errors in Government schools only 34.2% children were using prescribed glasses and 65.8% were not using spectacles while among private school children, 56.8% children were using prescribed spectacles and 43.2% children were not using spectacles. Most of the children with refractive errors had myopia (67%). Hypermetropia was seen in 14.1% and astigmatism in 18.9% of the cases which include myopic and hypermetropic astigmatism. Myopia was more common in females compared to male students. This is statistically significant with p value < 0.01. Headache, heaviness, cosmetic reasons like not looking good and cost factor for replacement after damage, forgetting glasses at home and concern of teasing about appearance were found to be factors for not using spectacles. It is vital to establish regular screening programs at schools for refractive errors through the existing school health services. Government and policy makers should take initiative for providing school based vision screening, quality optometry services and for providing spectacles at affordable price as part of the school healt