DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i10.031

Pages: 3834-3842

The study was conducted to explore the prevalence of visual impairment and other ocular disorders among school children and to understand the pattern of these eye disorders. It was also aimed to develop awareness for eye screening programs among teachers and parents 1963 children of 12 schools of Dibrugarh District, Assam were examined in a well illuminated space of each school. The children were examined with easy handling appliances namely Snellen chart, Trial frame, Torch light, Binocular Loupe, Ophthalmoscope etc. Socioeconomic classification was also worked out. Distant vision and colour vision were tested followed by examination of anterior segment, test for convergence insufficiency and squint and fundus examination. Intra-ocular pressure and visual field were also recorded. Children found with ocular disorders were referred to Medical College. There they were examined under slit lamp, those with defective vision were subjected to cycloplegic refraction and others having convergence insufficiency and strabismus were put on to synaptophore. They were then given necessary advice and treatment. Further, school teachers were made aware of the situation and were taught to test the vision of students. On observation, the prevalence of ocular disorders was found to be 9.98%. Refractive error was the commonest ocular disorder among which myopia prevailed in maximum cases. Conjunctivitis, corneal opacity, lid disorders, muscular imbalance etc. were other diseases seen. The study also succeeded in creating awareness and importance of school eye screening to eliminate blindness and other disorders.