Cross-sectional study of Youth stereopsis among urban and rural school children in Shantou District, Southern China

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of stereopsis among urban and rural students in Shantou City of Guangdong Province, China. Methods Cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 7537 students aged 6 to 19 years from 9 schools in Shantou City. Stereoacuity measured with Titmus stereopsis test diagram, international standard eye chart to check vision, cover testing was performed by using fixation targets at both distance (6m) and near (30cm). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software to investigate the association of age, grades, schools, different types of strabismus and stereopsis. Results A total of 7464 students were examined (participation rate was 99.03%), including 3928 boys and 3536 girls, mean age 11 years. Binocular vision (vision correction) ≥ 0.8 for 4901, accounting for 65.66% of the number of ophthalmic examination; The prevalence of stereopsis was 10.93%, and the ration of foveal stereopsis was 71.83%; The constituent ratio of Rural primary schools, urban primary schools, rural middle schools, urban middle schools were 71.83%, 64.05%, 66.34%, 69.32%. The foveal stereopsis ratio of Rural primary school students was higher than in rural secondary schools (P=0.008). There was no significant difference between the remaining groups. Compared to different eye position, foveal stereopsis ration was found highest in orthophoria (71.79%) and lowest in esophoria (63.19%). The stereopsis of the other different strabismus students was in the general level. The distribution of age of stereopsis in primary and secondary school students was uneven. The foveal stereopsis ration of rural middle school girls was higher than male middle school students. Multivariate logistic regression model indicated that prevalence of stereopsis was partial associated with grade, age, gender and area. Conclusions The prevalence of foveal stereopsis in eastern Guangdong Province of China to be lower than has been reported for other populations and students who get stereopsis are similar to other studies. Stereoscopic distribution is uneven among Urban and rural areas of each grade and age. The foveal stereopsis ration of rural middle school girls is higher than male middle school students. Foveal stereopsis ration is lowest in esophoria. Key words: Stereopsis; Cross-sectional study; Students