Vision screening in schoolchildren: Two years results

• Main Authors: Tananuvat N., Manassakorn A., Worapong A., Kupat J., Chuwuttayakorn J., Wattananikorn S.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-3543090289&partnerID=40&md5=67fc16175e02ef5acee7f890f97d86ed; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15279349; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/4085
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Objective: To assess the prevalence of visual impairment and ocular abnormalities among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai. Design: A community-based survey. Subjects and Method: The vision screening project was conducted from June 2000 to March 2002. Students in grade I in the Chiang Mai municipal area were examined for visual acuity (VA), color vision, ocular alignment, anterior segment and fundus. Subjective refraction was done in students with subnormal vision (VA 20/30 or less). Referral to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment was made for students with strabismus, amblyopia and other ocular abnormalities. Results: A total of 3,431 and 3,467 students were enrolled in 2000 and 2001, respectively. The prevalence of normal vision (VA 20/20), VA 20/30 or better in at least one eye and 20/40 or less in at least one eye were similar in both years (87%, 5.7%, 7.3% and 85%, 6.4%, 8.7%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity among boys and girls in either year (p = 0.6 and p = 0.2). Prevalence of abnormal color vision was 4.2%. Other causes of visual impairment in both years included strabismus (1.5% and 6.2%), amblyopia (1.1% and 1.4%) and some congenital abnormalities. Most cases of amblyopia were due to uncorrected refractive errors. Conclusion: The authors found that over 10% of school-aged children had subnormal vision. The important causes of visual deterioration came from refractive errors, strabismus and amblyopia. The authors concluded that vision screening is a cost-effective way of reducing visual morbidity from preventable visual impairment, which is a tragedy that cannot be ignored.