Research

A study conducted in Tamil Nadu, India, between 2016 and 2019, screened 250,000 schoolchildren aged 6 to 17. The prevalence of vision impairment, blindness, and low vision in Kanchipuram district was found to be 3.83%, 0.01%, and 0.19%, respectively. The main causes were refractive errors (3.05%), high myopia (0.002%), and refractive amblyopia (0.04%). Vision impairment was associated with urban locations, females, private schools, and higher-class grades. This large-scale school eye screening showed a relatively lower prevalence of vision issues compared to global studies. However, the primary causes were refractive errors, emphasizing the importance of regular eye examinations and corrective measures, particularly for urban, female, private school students aged 11-17 who were found to be at higher risk.