Research
Spectrum of Visual Impairment Among Urban Female School Students of Surat
The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of visual impairment and ocular morbidity to identify influencing factors and the impact on scholastic performance.
This was a population-based cross-sectional study undertaken among 3002 urban girl students of Surat in India.
The prevalence of refractive error was 15.22%; myopia was 91.47%, hyperopia was 4.60%, and astigmatism was 0.04%.
The prevalence of myopia and astigmatism mostly affected higher age groups.
The prevalence of hyperopia was higher in lower age groups such that even students with good vision reported ophthalmic symptoms.
Out of all spectacle users, 29.73% cases the eyesight was not found to be with the best possible corrections.
Refractive error was higher among the general caste (50.98%) and among Muslims (54.05%).
Of the participants with vision problems, 75.93% students had good academic performance.
Related ocular morbidity was observed in 20.35% participants along with the refractive error.
There is a load of eye morbidities of adolescent Indian urban girls and screening helps in early detection and timely interventions.
This article was identified as a reference for a VII-commissioned systematic review on the Impact of URE on Children.