Original research: Pattern and prevalence of eye disorders and diseases in school-aged children: findings from the Nationwide School Sight Sampling Survey in Armenia

BMJ Open Ophthalmology

article

Nairuhi Jrbashyan¹  Nune Yeghiazaryan¹  Abu Sikder³  Sudha Nallasamy⁴  Mark W Reid⁴  Roger Ohanesian¹  Thomas C Lee⁴  Juan Espinoza⁷ 

[1] Armenian EyeCare Project;Yerevan State University;Children's Hospital of Los Angeles;Surgery , Children's Hospital of Los Angeles;Department of Ophthalmology;Surgery , USC Keck School of Medicine;Pediatrics , Children's Hospital of Los Angeles;Pediatrics , USC Keck School of Medicine

关键词: vision;    optics and refraction;    public health;    child health (paediatrics);   

DOI  :  10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000899

学科分类：工业工程学

来源: BMJ Publishing Group

【 摘 要 】

Objective This study aims to identify the prevalence of eye disorders and their causes among secondary schoolchildren aged 6–15 years old in Armenia, based on analysis of the Nationwide School Sight Sampling Survey.Methods and Analysis A two-stage proportionate stratified cluster sample was designed for the survey. 22 600 students were screened for visual acuity in schools; 5944 of them were selected for analysis as a nationally representative sample. Those with 20/40 or worse vision were referred to photoscreening and rapid ophthalmic assessment in schools and then were provided with vouchers for free comprehensive eye examination in eye clinics. Data were collected through data collection forms and analysed using SPSS V.23.Results While majority of the children (85%) had normal vision, 15% had a visual acuity ≤20/40. The prevalence of vision impairment (VI) in at least one eye was 9.7% and blindness in at least one eye was 0.05%. The prevalence of abnormal vision and VI was higher among girls and older children. VI was more prevalent in urban areas. The most common diagnoses were myopia (60%), astigmatism (33.7%), hyperopia (29.5%) and strabismus (3.8%).Conclusion Majority of the vision abnormalities and VI among schoolchildren are a result of refractive error and are treatable. Our results highlight the importance of regular eye examinations for schoolchildren to detect and prevent VI. Raising awareness among parents, school staff and children about eye health is vital.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC|CC BY|CC BY-NC-ND