Demographic profile of newly detected refractive errors among schoolgoing children in Thrissur district of Kerala

Sathyan, Sanitha; Unnikrishnan, Melanie; Kunjachan, Anciya; Praseetha, KP; Santy, Neethu; Wilson, Dona; John, A. Meredith; Paul, Merin; Jose, Josni

doi:10.4103/kjo.kjo_19_18

Cited by 2 publications

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“…A 2018 study of newly prescribed refractive error (not including unchanged existing spectacles) in a population of Kerala school children aged 6–17 years found myopic astigmatism in 68.3%, simple myopia in 13.8%, hyperopic astigmatism in 13.1% and simple hyperopia in 1.20%. 24 These numbers suggest that almost all of the children had newly prescribed refractive errors and are much higher than the 6.01% prevalence of overall refractive error found in Kerala in the present study. However, no criteria for refractive error were reported, so very low levels may have been included, and this may explain the very high prevalence.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

Prevalence of refractive errors among school-going children in a multistate study in India

Joseph

Kumar³

et al. 2022

Br J Ophthalmol

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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.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

Prevalence of refractive errors among school-going children in a multistate study in India

Joseph

Kumar³

et al. 2022

Br J Ophthalmol

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Prevalence of myopia in Indian school children: Meta-analysis of last four decades

et al. 2020

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Background India is the second most populated country in the world with 41% of the population (492 million) under 18 years of age. While numerous studies have shown an increasing prevalence of myopia worldwide, there continues to be uncertainty about the magnitude of myopia in Indian school going population. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods We systematically identified published literature of last four decades from 1980 to March 2020 and assessed them for methodological quality. Data were gathered into 5-year age groups from 5-15, in urban or rural populations, and standardized to definition of myopia as refractive error �-0.50 dioptre. Random effects meta-analysis was done. Results We included data from 59 quality assessed studies, covering nearly 1,66,000 urban and 1,20,000 rural children. The overall crude prevalence of myopia over last four decades is 7.5% (95% CI, 6.5-8.5%) in 5-15-year age group. The prevalence of myopia is 8.5% (95% CI, 7.1-9.9%) in urban and 6.1% (95% CI, 4.5-7.7%) in rural children, with highest prevalence in urban 11-15-year age group [15.0% in last decade]. A significant increment in prevalence is noted in the last decade in rural children from 4.6% to 6.8%, reflecting changing rural environment. Conclusion Myopia is an emerging public health problem in both urban and rural school going adolescents in India requiring urgent efforts.

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Demographic profile of newly detected refractive errors among schoolgoing children in Thrissur district of Kerala

Cited by 2 publications

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Prevalence of refractive errors among school-going children in a multistate study in India

Prevalence of refractive errors among school-going children in a multistate study in India

Prevalence of myopia in Indian school children: Meta-analysis of last four decades

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