An epidemiological study of the ocular and visual profiles of Oklahoma Cherokees and Minnesota Chippewas

Over the last three decades some American Indian tribes in North America have received attention in the literature as a minority group with unique visual characteristics. Studies on the refractive status of Indians have shown an increase of refractive errors and particularly an abnormally high prevalence, and amount of, with-the-rule astigmatism. These changes appear to have taken place over the last 40 years. Eskimos, on the other hand, have recently showed an astoundingly high incidence of myopia. Other Native American tribes do not show dramatic changes in myopia or astigmatism. The Public Health Service-Indian Health Service, as an ongoing aspect of their responsibilities to Native Americans, perform screenings on children. This study reports the results of visual screenings primarily of Oklahoma Cherokee and Minnesota Chippewa children.