A study on refractive errors among school children in Kolkata
Das, A.; Dutta, H.; Bhaduri, G.; De Sarkar, A.; Sarkar, K.; Bannerjee, M.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 105(4): 169-172
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 17822183 Document Number: 610628
Childhood visual impairment due to refractive errors is a significant problem in school children and has a considerable impact on public health. To assess the magnitude of the problem the present study was undertaken among the school children aged 5 to 10 years in Kolkata. Detailed ophthalmological examination was carried out in the schools as well as in the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata. Among 2317 students examined, 582 (25.11%) were suffering from refractive errors, myopia being the commonest (n = 325; 14.02%). Astigmatism affected 91 children (3.93%). There is an increase of prevalence of refractive errors with increase of age, but it is not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There is also no significant difference of refractive errors between boys and girls.