Research

This cross-sectional study conducted in Mexico from September 2013 to July 2014 aimed to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among public primary school students. Out of 3,861,156 students across 32 states in Mexico, 31.2% were confirmed to have refractive errors, mainly myopia and astigmatism. Interestingly, over 70% of these students had not received eyeglasses to correct their vision problems. Eyeglasses were provided to them, leading to an 85.6% improvement in vision. Simple myopic astigmatism was the most common refractive error, affecting 25.7% of students. Anisometropia (a significant difference in refractive error between the eyes) was found in 3.9% of students. The study identified a significant issue of uncorrected refractive errors among Mexican primary school students, which could negatively impact their academic performance and overall quality of life. Despite its 2013-2014 data, the research highlights the importance of vision screening and eyeglass provision for children. It also raises concerns about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refractive errors due to increased screen time and decreased outdoor activities among students. A follow-up study is recommended to assess the current situation and trends in refractive errors among Mexican students.