Abstract
AIM: To assess the prevalence of uncorrected refractive error (RE) and binocular vision (BV) anomalies in school-aged children in Uyoun Aljawa, a small urban town in Saudi Arabia.
 
 METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 417 students (aged 6–13 years old) conducted in two primary schools in Uyoun Aljawa from November 2019 to January 2020. All students underwent comprehensive eye examination that include: distance visual acuity (VA), Non- cycloplegic refraction, ocular alignment assessment with the cover test; Near Point of Convergence (NPC) evaluation, Near stereo-acuity with Titmus-fly Stereotest, and finally, colour vision was screened with Ishihara plates. 
 
 RESULTS: A total of 417 male schoolchildren (mean age ± SD: 9.2 ± 1.9) were included. In this study, 78 (18.4%) students had reduced vision (VA of ≤6/9) of which only 21 (27%) students had spectacles at the time of the study and 19.2% had uncorrected RE (VA of <6/18 and no corrections). Emmetropia was reported in 80.3% of children where hyperopia was the most common refractive error (8.9%) followed by myopia (7.7%), and simple astigmatism was reported only in 3.1%. Heterophoria was reported in 12.5% of the sample, 5.2% had convergence insufficiency, and 16.3% showed subnormal results in stereo-acuity and 11 cases had a colour vision deficiency.
 
 CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal a high prevalence of RE and other BVA among schoolchildren in Uyoun Aljawa. Vision Screening programs of children for RE and BVA should be conducted at the community level and integrated into school health programmes.
Highlights
Refractive error (RE) and binocular vision anomalies (BVA) are major visual problems that affect a large proportion of school‐aged children (W. Dusek, Pierscionek, & McClelland, 2010; Resnikoff, Pascolini, Mariotti, & Pokharel, 2008; Schneider, Leeder, Gopinath, Wang, & Mitchell, 2010). the World Health Organization (WHO) identified uncorrected RE as the leading cause of vision impairment globally (Resnikoff et al, 2008)
Emmetropia was reported in 80.3% of children where hyperopia was the most common refractive error (8.9%) followed by myopia (7.7%), and simple astigmatism was reported only in 3.1%
The results of this study reveal a high prevalence of RE and other BVA among schoolchildren in Uyoun Aljawa
Summary
Refractive error (RE) and binocular vision anomalies (BVA) are major visual problems that affect a large proportion of school‐aged children (W. Dusek, Pierscionek, & McClelland, 2010; Resnikoff, Pascolini, Mariotti, & Pokharel, 2008; Schneider, Leeder, Gopinath, Wang, & Mitchell, 2010). the World Health Organization (WHO) identified uncorrected RE as the leading cause of vision impairment globally (Resnikoff et al, 2008). Refractive error (RE) and binocular vision anomalies (BVA) are major visual problems that affect a large proportion of school‐aged children Dusek, Pierscionek, & McClelland, 2010; Resnikoff, Pascolini, Mariotti, & Pokharel, 2008; Schneider, Leeder, Gopinath, Wang, & Mitchell, 2010). Dusek et al, 2010; Negrel, Maul, Pokharel, Zhao, & Ellwein, 2000). Studies have found that both hereditary and environmental factors play essential roles on the presence of RE and BV anomalies (Goldschmidt & Jacobsen, 2014; Wojciechowski, 2011). Investigation of the prevalence and risk factors of RE and BVA allows for better planning of vision screening programs that can deliver more precise preventive interventions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
