Prevalence of reduced visual acuity among preschool children in eastern China and comparison at a 5-year interval
Xiaohan Zhang1, Yue Wang1, Dan Huang1
1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Insights
The prevalence of reduced uncorrected visual acuity in Chinese children has significantly increased, suggesting greater exposure to vision-threatening factors. However, appropriate correction for refractive errors has also improved.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Assessing changes in visual acuity prevalence is crucial for public health.
- Previous studies on preschool vision lacked longitudinal data from the same region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of reduced visual acuity in children aged 48-60 months.
- To compare current prevalence rates with data from five years prior.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal, population-based study (Nanjing Eye Study) was conducted.
- Comprehensive eye examinations were performed on 2,300 children.
- Key measures included visual acuity (uncorrected, presenting, best-corrected) and cycloplegic refraction.
Main Results:
- Reduced uncorrected visual acuity prevalence increased significantly (6.8% vs. 5.3% in the worse eye).
- Reduced presenting visual acuity prevalence showed no significant change (4.0% vs. 3.7% in the better eye).
- The rate of glasses prescription increased (4.5% vs. 3.1%).
Conclusions:
- Increased prevalence of reduced uncorrected visual acuity highlights emerging vision threats in Chinese children.
- Improved rates of glasses prescription indicate better management of refractive errors.
Importance:
Assessing the prevalence of reduced visual acuity and its change over time has significant public health importance. This study evaluated prevalence of reduce visual acuity in children aged 48-60 months, and compared it with previous data.
Background:
Previous studies reported prevalence of reduced visual acuity in preschool children, but none has evaluated prevalence change in the same area.
Design:
Nanjing Eye Study, a longitudinal population-based study.
Participants:
Two thousand three hundred eligible children.
Methods:
Comprehensive eye examinations.
Main Outcome Measures:
Uncorrected visual acuity, presenting visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, anterior segment and fundus examination, cycloplegic refraction.
Results:
Based on the worse and better eye, respectively, 6.8% and 3.5% had reduced uncorrected visual acuity and 4.0% and 1.4% had reduced presenting visual acuity. Compared to rates in the Nanjing Paediatric Vision Project carried out 5 years ago in the same area, the prevalence rates of reduced uncorrected visual acuity were significantly higher (6.8% vs. 5.3%, P = 0.04 for worse eye; 3.5% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.0049 for better eye), but there was no significant increase in rates of reduced presenting visual acuity (4.0% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.63 for better eye; 1.4% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.43 for worse eye). The prevalence rate of glasses prescription is higher in this study (4.5% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.02).
Conclusions And Relevance:
Prevalence of reduced uncorrected visual acuity increased significantly, indicating that Chinese children are faced with more vision-threatening factors. However, more children with refractive errors got appropriate correction.
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