Prevalence of Amblyopia and Refractive Error among School Childrens in Faridabad Haryana

Abstract

Amblyopia or Lazy eye is the most common cause of monocular vision loss in newlinechildren and as amblyopia is a major preventable and treatable cause of paediatric low newlinevision, early detection and treatment of amblyopia is very important to reduce the newlineprevalence of amblyopia. Refractive error is an avoidable cause of visual impairment. newlineChildren do not complain of defective vision. This warrants early detection and newlinetreatment of these problems to prevent future blindness. newlineStudy Aims and Objective newlineTo access the prevalence of amblyopia and Refractive error among school going newlinechildren in Faridabad, Haryana. newlineStudy design: Cross sectional study newlineMaterial and Methods newlineThis population based cross sectional study included 2,370 randomly selected newlinestudents. The age group of 6-16 years underwent screening. The age group divided in newlinethree groups, 6-10, 11-14, and15-16. The mean age of the study group was 11 newline±3.16year s Visual acuity was tested using a Snellens chart. Refractive errors were newlinemeasured by Retinoscopy and Autorefractometer, Strabismus was checked using newlinecover test. Direct ophthalmoscopy was used to assess the anterior segment, lens newlineopacities, red reflex and fundus. Functional amblyopia was defined as best corrected newlinevisual acuity and#8804; 6/12 or 20/40 in one or both eyes with no anatomical problems. newlineResult newlineAmong the 2370 students were screened, 33(1.39%) had Amblyopia and 413 newline(17.42%) with Refractive error,33 [n=33/2370; 1.4%, 95% confidence interval: 1%- newline2%] children were diagnosed with amblyopia. In 33 students, 22 [n=22/33: 66.7%; newline95% Confidence Interval: 48.2% - 82%] were males and 11 [n=11/33: 33.3%; 95% newlineConfidence Interval: 18% - 51.8%] were females. Due to refractive error 28 (84.84%) newlinestudents were amblyopic in which hyperopic (17) myopic (7) astigmatism (4) visual newlinedeprivation 1 (3.03%) and cases had amblyopia. Strabismus was found in 4 (12.12%) newlineof cases. Refractive errors, especially anisometropia (24)72.72% and hyperopia newline(17)51.51%, were important amblyogenic risk factors. Unilateral Amblyopia (29/33) newlinewas more than bilateral am