Epidemiology, clinical profile, and pattern of refractive error in newly diagnosed cases of refractive error in pediatric population visiting a tertiary eye care center

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical profile, and pattern of refractive error in newly diagnosed cases in children visiting a tertiary care eye center in southern India. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 367 children, ≤15 years of age, with significant refractive error who visited our tertiary eye care hospital over a period of 1 year. Every child underwent detailed ocular examination. Significant refractive error was defined as myopia of ≥−0.75 diopter (D), hypermetropia of more than +2 D, and astigmatism of more than 0.75 D. Descriptive statistics were computed for better and the worse eye. Statistical tests were applied between the worse and better eyes using Chi-square test. Results: A total of 367 children (38.8%) were diagnosed for the first time of having refractive error. Only 146 (39.8%) children presented with visual complaints. With respect to the vision in the worse eye, 65.9% (n = 240) had moderately subnormal vision. There was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.057) between age distribution and visual acuity in the worse eye. Two hundred and thirty-eight children (64.9%) had significant astigmatism as compared to 161 myopic (43.9%) children. There was a statistically significant difference between reasons of visit and different age groups. Conclusions: Astigmatism was the most prevalent refractive error and uncorrected astigmatism the most significant amblyogenic factor. Since majority of children, especially in the younger age group, present with nonvisual complaints, involvement of pediatricians and parents will help us to reduce morbidity due to uncorrected refractive error and amblyopia.