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The distribution of refractive errors among children attending Lumbini Eye Institute, Nepal
1Lumbini Eye Institute, Bhairahawa, Nepal. drsalmakcrai@gmail.com
Insights
Astigmatism is the most common refractive error in children aged 5-15, followed by hyperopia and myopia. Many children still have uncorrected vision problems, highlighting a need for better eye care access.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Uncorrected refractive error is a leading cause of childhood blindness and visual impairment.
- Early detection and correction are crucial for preventing long-term vision deficits in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and patterns of refractive errors in children presenting to a pediatric ophthalmology clinic in Nepal.
- To identify demographic and geographic factors associated with refractive errors in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 133 children aged 5-15 with refractive errors was conducted.
- Data were collected from urban and rural populations in Nepal and adjacent Indian territories.
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.
Main Results:
- Astigmatism was the most frequent refractive error (47%), followed by myopia (34%) and hyperopia (15%).
- Refractive errors were more common in older children (11-15 years) and in rural populations (70%) compared to urban (26%).
- Rural females showed a higher prevalence of myopia (38%) than urban females (18%), and only 57% of children were using spectacles upon initial presentation.
Conclusions:
- Astigmatism is the predominant refractive error in children aged 5-15 in this region, with myopia and hyperopia also significant.
- A substantial proportion of children with refractive errors remain uncorrected, indicating a gap in timely visual correction and management.
- Findings underscore the importance of accessible pediatric eye care services, particularly in rural areas, to address the burden of refractive errors.
Introduction:
Uncorrected refractive error is an important cause of childhood blindness and visual impairment.
Objective:
To describe the patterns of refractive errors among children attending the outpatient clinic at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Lumbini Eye Institute, Bhairahawa, Nepal.
Subjects And Methods:
Records of 133 children with refractive errors aged 5 - 15 years from both the urban and rural areas of Nepal and the adjacent territory of India attending the hospital between September and November 2010 were examined for patterns of refractive errors. The SPSS statistical software was used to perform data analysis.
Results:
The commonest type of refractive error among the children was astigmatism (47 %) followed by myopia (34 %) and hyperopia (15 %). The refractive error was more prevalent among children of both the genders of age group 11-15 years as compared to their younger counterparts (RR = 1.22, 95 % CI = 0.66 - 2.25). The refractive error was more common (70 %) in the rural than the urban children (26 %). The rural females had a higher (38 %) prevalence of myopia than urban females (18 %). Among the children with refractive errors, only 57 % were using spectacles at the initial presentation.
Conclusions:
Astigmatism is the commonest type of refractive error among the children of age 5 - 15 years followed by hypermetropia and myopia. Refractive error remains uncorrected in a significant number of children.
