| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 26-31 |
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Mohsin's schoolchildren eye screening program - Analysis of the results
Pandiri Venkatagiri Syamala1, Ramya Seetam Raju1, C V Gopal Raju1, Rednam Ahikrishna1, A V N Chetty2
1 Department of Community Ophthalmology, Visakha Eye Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
2 Department of Community Ophthalmology, Visakha Eye Bank Research and Training Trust, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Pandiri Venkatagiri Syamala
Visakha Eye Hospital, Pedda Waltair, Visakhapatnam - 530 017, Andhra Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jocr.jocr_17_21
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Aim of the Study: To determine the prevalence of ocular morbidity among government schoolchildren from Mohsin's Schoolchildren Eye Screening Program. Design: A school-based, observational study design. Participants: Schoolchildren between 1st and 10th standards across various government schools. Materials and Methods: Students of 429 government schools of Visakhapatnam were covered under this eye screening program. It was a three-staged program. In the first stage, 84,727 students were screened for visual impairment and the presence of any abnormality by trained teachers or optometrists. In the second stage, those who were identified were subjected to a detailed ocular examination and refraction in the school premises by trained optometrists. Glasses were dispensed for those who improved to normal visual acuity and treatment was given for minor ailments by optometrists, residents and ophthalmologists requiring further evaluation were referred to the base hospital for examination and appropriate management by an ophthalmologist in the third stage. Results: 84,727 children from 429 schools were screened. Ocular morbidity was 6.07%. Refractive error was the most common ocular disorder identified in 3.74% with a significantly high rate among secondary schoolchildren (P < 0.001). Other common abnormalities found were color blindness (1.25%), allergic conjunctivitis (0.12%), squint (0.08%), infective conjunctivitis (0.02%), amblyopia (0.02%), and lid and adnexal disorders (0.02%). Conclusion: Ocular morbidity is a significant problem among schoolchildren. Visual impairment due to refractive errors is common and can be corrected by prescribing glasses. School screening programs are effective and essential in identifying ocular morbidity in schoolchildren.
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