Study on ocular morbidity prevalence and impact of digital display devices among school children

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of ocular morbidity and impact of digital display devices among school children attending Air Force school in Delhi. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a quantitative method of data collection and was conducted among primary school children of age group 5-11years in Delhi area. A total of 1100 school-going children were evaluated. After enumeration and questionnaire administration, visual acuity and exposure time of digital display devices noted, followed by examination of anterior and posterior segment structures of the eyes of the children. For the analysis, children were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (5-7 years), Group 2 (8-10 years) and Group 3 (below 11 years) based on age.A total of 1100 school children (625 boys and 475 girls) participated in the study. A total of 282 (25.6%) children had visual impairment and 315 (28.6%) children had ocular morbidities. The common ocular morbidities identified were refractive error 25.6%, colour vision defective 0.9%, convergence defect 1.8% and squint 0.2%. The older age group (8-10 yrs) had a higher prevalence of refractive error, especially myopia, compared to the younger age group (5-7 yrs) and group (<12yrs) (P < 0.001). A high prevalence of ocular morbidity among school children of age group 8-10 yrs was observed with a positive correlation with exposure time to digital display devices. Refractive errors were the most common ocular disorders.