Dr.SHWETA PARAKH, P16625
AIM: School students were screened for the prevalence of refractive error & strabismus. METHODS: 904 [16%(141) pre-primary; 40%(347) primary; 54%,(484) secondary] students aged 3-17yrs were screened for refractive error & squint using hand held autorefractometer. Cover test was also done. Those failing the tests were referred to higher center. RESULT: M:F ratio was 1.13. 8.73% (n=79) students failed the screening. Among them 89.9%(n=71) were >6yrs & 56.96% (n=45) were from 2ry school; 11.39% (n=9) had strabismus & 89.87% (n=71) had refractive error while only 15 of 71(21%) were already prescribed glasses. Among those with refractive errors 69% (n=49) had astigmatism, 33.8% (n=24) had myopia, 26.76% (n=19) had anisometropia & 9.85% (n=7) had hypermetropia. CONCLUSION: Refractive errors go undiagnosed in around 79% school going children. Almost 90% of refractive errors were diagnosed above 6yrs of age & 2/3rd among secondary students with Astigmatism & myopia being the commonest.
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