Purpose: Global trends show a high prevalence of refractive errors among children. The prevalence of vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive errors among school children is increasing and the need for management of other ocular conditions is also reported. This study presents the status of eye health and pattern of daily activities among the school children of a tribal location in Tamil Nadu, South India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 schools of Karumandurai cluster, Salem district in Tamil Nadu, India. A three-phased comprehensive school screening protocol was conducted to understand the prevalence of vision impairment, refractive error, and other ocular conditions along with a survey about the daily activities of the children at school and home. Results: Among the 3655 children screened, the prevalence of vision impairment was found to be 0.62% ( n = 23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–0.94) and prevalence of refractive error was 0.30% ( n = 11, 95%CI 0.17–0.54), among which 0.11% ( n = 4) were already wearing spectacles. A total of 44 children (1.20%; 95%CI 0.90–1.61) were found to have other ocular problems and among them, 14 (0.38%) had visual acuity less than 20/30 (6/9). Almost 84% of children required surgical or specialty eye care services. Vision impairment was more in children with other ocular conditions compared to refractive errors ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of vision impairment and refractive errors in this tribal area was less. Ocular conditions were more prevalent than refractive errors in this tribal region with the majority of children needing specialty or surgical eye care services. This implies the need for access to secondary or tertiary eye care centers.

No abstract

AimMuch existing data on childhood refractive error prevalence in India were gathered in local studies, many now dated. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, severity and determinants of refractive errors among school-going children participating in a multistate vision screening programme across India.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, vision screening was conducted in children aged 5–18 years at schools in five states using a pocket vision screener. Refractive error was measured using retinoscopy, and subjective refraction and was defined both by spherical equivalent (SE) and spherical ametropia, as myopia ≤−0.5 diopters (D), hyperopia ≥+1.0 D and/or astigmatism as >0.5 D. Data from the eye with less refractive error were used to determine prevalence.ResultsAmong 2 240 804 children (50.9% boys, mean age 11.5 years, SD ±3.3), the prevalence of SE myopia was 1.57% (95% CI 1.54% to 1.60%) at 5–9 years, 3.13% (95% CI 3.09% to 3.16%) at 10–14 years and 4.8% (95% CI 4.73% to 4.86%) at 15–18 years. Hyperopia prevalence was 0.59% (95% CI 0.57% to 0.61%), 0.54% (95% CI 0.53% to 0.56%) and 0.39% (95% CI 0.37% to 0.41%), respectively. When defined by spherical ametropia, these values for myopia were 0.84%, 2.50% and 4.24%, and those for hyperopia were 2.11%, 2.41% and 2.07%, respectively.Myopia was associated with older age, female gender, private school attendance, urban location and state. The latter appeared to be driven by higher literacy rates.ConclusionsRefractive error, especially myopia, is common in India. Differences in prevalence between states appear to be driven by literacy rates, suggesting that the burden of myopia may rise as literacy increases.

The present study was carried out to determine the toxic effects of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) on the survivability, reproduction and growth of earthworm, Eudrilius eugeniae. Adult E. eugeniae were exposed to the varying concentrations of Pb and Ni. Mortality, growth and cocoon production were measured at every 30 days interval for 90 days. The results suggest clear dose-dependent negative effects of Pb and Ni on survivability, reproduction and growth of earthworms. A maximum reduction (43.35%) in survivability was observed in the case of Pb (0.06 ppm) followed by Ni+Pb (0.03+0.03 ppm) in which there is 31.65% decrement in survivability was observed. A similar trend was observed in growth and reproduction studies. It was concluded that the heavy metal Pb was more noxious to E. eugeniae as compared to Ni alone as well as in combinations. These results can be used for environmental monitoring and estimation of heavy metals contamination in soil.