|
|
||||||||
1From the Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Peoples Republic of China; the 2Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Peoples Republic of China; the 3Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Public Health, Hong Kong SAR, Peoples Republic of China; the 4Shantou University School of Public Health, Shantou, Peoples Republic of China; 5Department of Public Health, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; and the 6Xichang Eye Center, Xichang, Peoples Republic of China.
PURPOSE. To evaluate visual acuity, visual function, and prevalence of refractive error among Chinese secondary-school children in a cross-sectional school-based study.
METHODS. Uncorrected, presenting, and best corrected visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction with refinement, and self-reported visual function were assessed in a random, cluster sample of rural secondary school students in Xichang, China.
RESULTS. Among the 1892 subjects (97.3% of the consenting children, 84.7% of the total sample), mean age was 14.7 ± 0.8 years, 51.2% were female, and 26.4% were wearing glasses. The proportion of children with uncorrected, presenting, and corrected visual disability (
6/12 in the better eye) was 41.2%, 19.3%, and 0.5%, respectively. Myopia < –0.5, < –2.0, and < –6.0 D in both eyes was present in 62.3%, 31.1%, and 1.9% of the subjects, respectively. Among the children with visual disability when tested without correction, 98.7% was due to refractive error, while only 53.8% (414/770) of these children had appropriate correction. The girls had significantly (P < 0.001) more presenting visual disability and myopia < –2.0 D than did the boys. More myopic refractive error was associated with worse self-reported visual function (ANOVA trend test, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS. Visual disability in this population was common, highly correctable, and frequently uncorrected. The impact of refractive error on self-reported visual function was significant. Strategies and studies to understand and remove barriers to spectacle wear are needed.
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] |
||||
![]() |
M. Zhang, N. Congdon, L. Li, Y. Song, K. Choi, Y. Wang, Z. Zhou, X. Liu, A. Sharma, W. Chen, et al. Myopia, Spectacle Wear, and Risk of Bicycle Accidents Among Rural Chinese Secondary School Students: The Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study Report No. 7 Arch Ophthalmol, June 1, 2009; 127(6): 776 - 783. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Zhang, H. Lv, Y. Gao, S. Griffiths, A. Sharma, D. Lam, L. Li, Y. K. Tse, X. Liu, D. Xu, et al. Visual Morbidity Due to Inaccurate Spectacles among School Children in Rural China: The See Well to Learn Well Project, Report 1 Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2009; 50(5): 2011 - 2017. [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] |
||||
![]() |
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] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |