| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 29
| Issue : 4 | Page : 1044-1047 |
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Prevalence of refractive errors among primary school children in the rural areas of Menouf district, Egypt
Mohammed M Elkot1, Faried M Wgdy2, Nagwa N Hegazy1, Asmhan F Hamouda MSc 1
1 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
Correspondence Address:
Asmhan F Hamouda
Munshaat Soultan, Menoufia, 32511
Egypt
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1110-2098.202535
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Objective
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among primary school children in the rural areas of Menouf district, Egypt.
Background
Visual impairment among school children is a prevailing problem. Besides affecting children's attendance at school it reduces their ability to study thus leading to impairment of their academic achievements.
Participants and methods
The sample size was calculated to be 435 students, which was increased to 480 students. The students were selected among all the primary school children in the selected area through a systematic random sampling of the classes in the studied schools during the scholastic years 2013–2014. All students were interviewed and underwent assessment for visual acuity.
Results
The screening revealed that 116 students out of 480 (24%) had refractive errors. Of them, 22% patients had myopia and only 2% had hypermetropia.
The patients were found to be affected by watching television for long durations, in dim or yellow light, and at a distance less than the healthy recommended level.
Conclusion
Nearly one-fourth of the students were found to have refractive errors. |
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