Cross-section investigation on refractive status and influencing factors of preschool children in Changdu, Tibet

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of refractive status of preschool children in Changdu, Tibet. Methods: From July 2020 to October 2020, a cross-section investigation was performed among preschool children in Changdu, Tibet. The general information was collected, and the uncorrected refractive status was recorded and investigated. The measurement data were expressed by mean±standard deviation, and the t-test and χ2 test were used for univariate analysis. The questionnaire of factors influencing children's visual acuity was distributed to the parents of the children. The independent variables included height, weight, nutritional status, parents' eyesight, sleeping time and habits that were bad for eyes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of refractive status, including age and gender. Results: A total of 2 793 children were screened, among whom 2 646 (98.64%) children including 1 501 males and 1 145 females were inhabitants in the plateau region. The average age was (4.52±0.97) years. Refractive abnormalities were found in 253 children (9.56%). The detection rate of refractive abnormalities increased with age. There was no significant difference between males and females (χ²=1.79, P>0.05). The total abnormal refraction rate of preschoolers was lower in the plateau region than the non-plateau region (χ²=13.93, P<0.05). The parental refractive status (OR=0.06, 95%CI: 0.04-0.08) and nutritional factors (OR=0.11, 95%CI: 0.04-0.25) had higher correlations with the refractive abnormalities of preschoolers. Conclusions: The rate of refractive abnormalities of preschool children was relatively low in Changdu, Tibet. One of the effective measures to prevent ametropia in the plateau area can be balanced nutrition. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 772-776).