Abstract

Purpose: To compare Spectrum of refractive errors in Urban and Rural School going children.

Material and Methods: A total of 100 children between 6-16 years of age were included in this study (50 rural and 50 urban). Refractive errors were calculated and compared between the two groups.

Results: Out of 100 children 22% were in the age group of 6-8 years, 30% in the age group of 9-11 years with a frequency of 30% and 34% in the age group of 12-14 years and 14% of ≥ 15 years. The mean age was 11.2 years. Out of 100 patients uncorrected visual acuity between 6/6 to 6/12 was 51% in right eye and 48% in left eye. Visual acuity between 6/18 to 6/24 was 27% in right eye and 30% in left eye. Visual acuity 6/36 was 15% in right eye and 14% in left eye. Visual acuity worse than 6/36, 7% in right eye and 8% in left eye. Out of 100 children majority of patients are hypermetropia of 61.3% with refractive errors of 2-6D and more than 6D, majority are myopic (19.5%) and less than 2D are myopic astigmatism. Frequency of anisometropia more than 1.5D was 20% and less than 1.5D was 80%. Myopia was more common in urban (52%) followed by hyperopia (26%) whereas hyperopia was more common in rural (36%).

Conclusion: We concluded from this study that refractive error is one of the most common causes of visual impairment. Myopia is the commonest refractive error in school going children, which is slightly higher in urban children due to indoor games and use of computers and video games. Hypermetropia is the most common cause of refractive error in children of rural area.