Magnitude and determinants of refractive error in Omani school children

To estimate the magnitude and determinants of refractive error in school children, a study was undertaken to review the school screening and refraction data.

Trained physicians screened 416,157 students to evaluate their visual status and identified 28,765 students with defective vision. Refractionists refracted 25,733 (89.5%) of them, determined the refractive error and prescribed spectacles. Students with ocular co-morbidity and visual disability were re-examined and treated by the ophthalmologists. This study was conducted between June 2003 and December 2003 in the Ministry of Health, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

The prevalence of myopia was 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.06-4.18). It was higher among female than male students [rate ratio (RR) 1.69 (95% CI 1.64-1.74)]. The rate was more in students of higher age groups (chi2 = 11,179 degrees of freedom = 2 p<0.00001). Regional variation in myopic trend was marked. The prevalence of hypermetropia was 0.4% (95% CI 0.37-0.41). However, it could be an underestimation as presence of accommodative spasm was not taken into account. The risk of low vision disability was significantly higher in male students than female students. The prevalence of ambiopia was 0.3%. It was significantly higher in male than female students. First primary students had strabismus of 0.5%.

The study enabled to understand trends of refractive error in Omani children (Arabic tribe) and demonstrated the importance of vision screening in providing timely eye care and identifying visually disabled school children.