School screening in Coastal Karnataka

Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness among students in 13 schools in coastal Karnataka and to determine the most common causes for the same. Materials and Methods. This was a prospective cross-sectional study. A total of 833 students from 13 different schools were screened as a part of the school screening programme. The examiners were an ophthalmologist and an ophthalmic assistant. For all the students, visual acuity (VA) was measured with a Snellen chart, color vision was done using an Ishiaras chart, fundus examination was done using a direct ophthalmoscope, while students with subnormal vision (VA ≤ 6/ 9) were examined using pinhole, and referred for detailed eye examination and clinical refraction. Results. The age range was from 6 to 16 years comprising 390 males and 443 females. Refractive error in either eye was present in 69 of these students of which myopic astigmatism was the commonest type. This was followed by allergic conjunctivitis 15 cases, amblyopia 3, squint 2, lids and adnexal disorders in 2 students; defective color vision was seen in 8 students, all of whom were males. Spectacle usage was found to be present only in 11 students, who showed lack of awareness concerning eye care and possibly the lack of access to health care. There were no students with retinal or posterior segment disorders. Conclusions. Uncorrected refractive error is the most common visual impairment found in schools students in coastal Karnataka and there is a need for the establishment of a regular school vision-screening program to detect such problems in order to prevent the burden on society due to the long life span ahead.