Prospective study to know the incidence of refractive error in school going children

ackground: The purpose of this study is to assess the refractive error and related impairment in school going children in Madikeri town of Karnataka. Method: All the school students between 3rd standard (8 years) to 10th standard (16 Years) were examined in their school using Snellens chart. Any child wearing glasses, who had difficulty in reading are having any other symptoms like headache watering were referred to our centre for dilated retinoscopy, fundoscopy and post mydriatic test and to prescribe the glasses. Results: A total of 1986 children were examined of which 194 students had refractive error of which 123 were myopic and 48 were hypermetropic and 23 were having astigmatism (>0.50) Myopia was higher in the female gender of the 194 students 178 students had Bilateral refractive error and 16 students had unilateral refractive error. Conclusion: Refractive errors are usually asymptomatic which can be detected by simple vision testing using Snellens chart can prevent the onset of amblyopia and squint, correction of refractive errors can enhance the school performance of the child.