| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
1 From the International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India; the 2 Centre for Social Services, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, India; 3 Unidad de Epidemiologica Clinica, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; 4 Foundation Eye Care Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal; and the 5 National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
PURPOSE. To assess the prevalence of refractive error and related visual impairment in school-aged children in the rural population of the Mahabubnagar district in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
METHODS. Random selection of village-based clusters was used to identify a sample of children 7 to 15 years of age. From April 2000 through February 2001, children in the 25 selected clusters were enumerated in a door-to-door survey and examined at a rural eye center in the district. The examination included visual acuity measurements, ocular motility evaluation, retinoscopy and autorefraction under cycloplegia, and examination of the anterior segment, media, and fundus. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refractive error of at least -0.50 D and hyperopia as +2.00 D or more. Children with reduced vision and a sample of those with normal vision underwent independent replicate examinations for quality assurance in seven clusters.
RESULTS. A total of 4414 children from 4876 households was enumerated, and 4074 (92.3%) were examined. The prevalence of uncorrected, baseline (presenting), and best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better eye was 2.7%, 2.6%, and 0.78%, respectively. Refractive error was the cause in 61% of eyes with vision impairment, amblyopia in 12%, other causes in 15%, and unexplained causes in the remaining 13%. A gradual shift toward less-positive values of refractive error occurred with increasing age in both boys and girls. Myopia in one or both eyes was present in 4.1% of the children. Myopia risk was associated with female gender and having a father with a higher level of schooling. Higher risk of myopia in children of older age was of borderline statistical significance (P = 0.069). Hyperopia in at least one eye was present in 0.8% of children, with no significant predictors.
CONCLUSIONS. Refractive error was the main cause of visual impairment in children aged between 7 and 15 years in rural India. There was a benefit of spectacles in 70% of those who had visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better eye at baseline examination. Because visual impairment can have a significant impact on a child’s life in terms of education and development, it is important that effective strategies be developed to eliminate this easily treated cause of visual impairment.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  B. Lu, N. Congdon, X. Liu, K. Choi, D. S. C. Lam, M. Zhang, M. Zheng, Z. Zhou, L. Li, X. Liu, et al. Associations Between Near Work, Outdoor Activity, and Myopia Among Adolescent Students in Rural China: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study Report No. 2 Arch Ophthalmol, June 1, 2009; 127(6): 769 - 775. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Wojciechowski, D. Stambolian, E. Ciner, G. Ibay, T. N. Holmes, and J. E. Bailey-Wilson Genomewide Linkage Scans for Ocular Refraction and Meta-analysis of Four Populations in the Myopia Family Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2009; 50(5): 2024 - 2032. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Congdon, M. Zheng, A. Sharma, K. Choi, Y. Song, M. Zhang, M. Wang, Z. Zhou, L. Li, X. Liu, et al. Prevalence and Determinants of Spectacle Nonwear Among Rural Chinese Secondary Schoolchildren: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study Report 3 Arch Ophthalmol, December 1, 2008; 126(12): 1717 - 1723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. R. Salomao, R. W. Cinoto, A. Berezovsky, L. Mendieta, C. R. Nakanami, C. Lipener, E. d. H. Munoz, F. Ejzenbaum, R. Belfort Jr, G. P. Pokharel, et al. Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment in Low-Middle Income School Children in Sao Paulo, Brazil Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., October 1, 2008; 49(10): 4308 - 4313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Sharma, L. Li, Y. Song, K. Choi, D. S. C. Lam, M. Zhang, M. Zheng, Z. Zhou, X. Liu, B. Wu, et al. Strategies to Improve the Accuracy of Vision Measurement by Teachers in Rural Chinese Secondary Schoolchildren: Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study (X-PRES) Report No. 6 Arch Ophthalmol, October 1, 2008; 126(10): 1434 - 1440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Li, Y. Song, X. Liu, B. Lu, K. Choi, D. S. C. Lam, M. Zhang, M. Zheng, Y. Wang, A. Sharma, et al. Spectacle Acceptance among Secondary School Students in Rural China: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study (X-PRES)--Report 5 Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2008; 49(7): 2895 - 2902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Congdon, Y. Wang, Y. Song, K. Choi, M. Zhang, Z. Zhou, Z. Xie, L. Li, X. Liu, A. Sharma, et al. Visual Disability, Visual Function, and Myopia among Rural Chinese Secondary School Children: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study (X-PRES)--Report 1 Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2008; 49(7): 2888 - 2894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C Williams, K Northstone, M Howard, I Harvey, R A Harrad, and J M Sparrow Prevalence and risk factors for common vision problems in children: data from the ALSPAC study Br. J. Ophthalmol., July 1, 2008; 92(7): 959 - 964. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Dirani, A. Islam, S. N. Shekar, and P. N. Baird Dominant Genetic Effects on Corneal Astigmatism: The Genes in Myopia (GEM) Twin Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., April 1, 2008; 49(4): 1339 - 1344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. E. Gilbert, L. B. Ellwein, and the Refractive Error Study in Children Study Group Prevalence and Causes of Functional Low Vision in School-Age Children: Results from Standardized Population Surveys in Asia, Africa, and Latin America Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2008; 49(3): 877 - 881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Ip, S. C. Huynh, A. Kifley, K. A. Rose, I. G. Morgan, R. Varma, and P. Mitchell Variation of the Contribution from Axial Length and Other Oculometric Parameters to Refraction by Age and Ethnicity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., October 1, 2007; 48(10): 4846 - 4853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Ebri, H. Kuper, and S. Wedner Cost-Effectiveness of Cycloplegic Agents: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Nigerian Children Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2007; 48(3): 1025 - 1031. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Fotouhi, H. Hashemi, M. Khabazkhoob, and K. Mohammad The prevalence of refractive errors among schoolchildren in Dezful, Iran Br. J. Ophthalmol., March 1, 2007; 91(3): 287 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. C. Huynh, A. Kifley, K. A. Rose, I. G. Morgan, and P. Mitchell Astigmatism in 12-Year-Old Australian Children: Comparisons with a 6-Year-Old Population Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2007; 48(1): 73 - 82. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-M Saw, P-P Goh, A Cheng, A Shankar, D T H Tan, and L B Ellwein Ethnicity-specific prevalences of refractive errors vary in Asian children in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore Br. J. Ophthalmol., October 1, 2006; 90(10): 1230 - 1235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. D. Singh, N. S. Logan, and B. Gilmartin Three-dimensional modeling of the human eye based on magnetic resonance imaging. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., June 1, 2006; 47(6): 2272 - 2279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Robaei, K. A. Rose, E. Ojaimi, A. Kifley, F. J. Martin, and P. Mitchell Causes and Associations of Amblyopia in a Population-Based Sample of 6-Year-Old Australian Children. Arch Ophthalmol, June 1, 2006; 124(6): 878 - 884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C A McCarty Uncorrected refractive error Br. J. Ophthalmol., May 1, 2006; 90(5): 521 - 522. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. C. Holguin, N. Congdon, N. Patel, A. Ratcliffe, P. Esteso, S. T. Flores, D. Gilbert, M. A. P. Rito, and B. Munoz Factors associated with spectacle-wear compliance in school-aged mexican children. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2006; 47(3): 925 - 928. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H-D Luo, G Gazzard, Y Liang, A Shankar, D T. Tan, and S-M Saw Defining myopia using refractive error and uncorrected logMAR visual acuity >0.3 from 1334 Singapore school children ages 7-9 years. Br. J. Ophthalmol., March 1, 2006; 90(3): 362 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C-S D Ho, C-B C Ng, E Chan, A Ngeow, R Wijaya, V Ashok, W Tang, G Gazzard, W-H Chua, and S-M Saw Uncorrected refractive error in Singapore teenagers Br. J. Ophthalmol., February 1, 2006; 90(2): 202 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. C. Huynh, A. Kifley, K. A. Rose, I. Morgan, G. Z. Heller, and P. Mitchell Astigmatism and Its Components in 6-Year-Old Children Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2006; 47(1): 55 - 64. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.-M. Saw, L. Tong, W.-H. Chua, K.-S. Chia, D. Koh, D. T. H. Tan, and J. Katz Incidence and Progression of Myopia in Singaporean School Children Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2005; 46(1): 51 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. He, J. Zeng, Y. Liu, J. Xu, G. P. Pokharel, and L. B. Ellwein Refractive Error and Visual Impairment in Urban Children in Southern China Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2004; 45(3): 793 - 799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. R. A. Bourne, B. P. Dineen, D. M. N. Huq, S. M. Ali, and G. J. Johnson Correction of Refractive Error in the Adult Population of Bangladesh: Meeting the Unmet Need Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., February 1, 2004; 45(2): 410 - 417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.-Y. Cheng, W.-M. Hsu, J.-H. Liu, S.-Y. Tsai, and P. Chou Refractive Errors in an Elderly Chinese Population in Taiwan: The Shihpai Eye Study Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2003; 44(11): 4630 - 4638. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. S. Naidoo, A. Raghunandan, K. P. Mashige, P. Govender, B. A. Holden, G. P. Pokharel, and L. B. Ellwein Refractive Error and Visual Impairment in African Children in South Africa Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2003; 44(9): 3764 - 3770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R Dandona and L Dandona Childhood blindness in India: a population based perspective Br. J. Ophthalmol., March 1, 2003; 87(3): 263 - 265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B Munoz and S K West Blindness and visual impairment in the Americas and the Caribbean Br. J. Ophthalmol., May 1, 2002; 86(5): 498 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. V. S. Murthy, S. K. Gupta, L. B. Ellwein, S. R. Munoz, G. P. Pokharel, L. Sanga, and D. Bachani Refractive Error in Children in an Urban Population in New Delhi Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2002; 43(3): 623 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
