Abstract

Purpose: Tripura is a beautiful North – Eastern state in India. Maximum tribal people live in autonomous area named TTAADC. The study was conducted among the school children in different rural tribal area of Tripura, within 15^th September 2021 to 30^th November 2021. Children who have normal vision both in distance & near and had no asthenopic problem are not included in this study. The purpose of this study is, to demonstrate the prevalence of visual disorders and the frequency of associated ocular risk factors of online study after pandemic period among rural school children of tribal area of Tripura.

Methods: The Questionnaire-based study was done, including Visual acuity measurement both distance and near, by Snellen’s Visual acuity chart, anterior segment examination by torch light with binocular loupe, tear secretion evaluation by Schirmer Tear Test Strips, convergence measurement by RAF rule.

Results: 259 children were randomly examined in that period in different primary school campus of TTAADC of Tripura, where 97(37.45%) were girls and 162(62.55%) were boys. 99(38.22%) children were myopic, 47(18.15%) children were hypermetropic, 70(27.03%) were astigmatic, 43(16.60%) children were suffering convergence anomalies and 91(35.13%) children were suffering dry eye symptoms, 52(20.08%) children were suffering severe dry eye symptoms after pandemic period.

Conclusion: The boys had a higher frequency of a presenting visual impairment than girls. Many students were unaware of visual impairments and their risk factors. Refractive error was the main cause of visual impairment in children after pandemic period in rural tribal area. There was a benefit of spectacles in 80% of those who had visual acuity less than 6/6. To overcome post pandemic dryness can be manage by taking sufficient citrus fruits and drinking water, restriction of uses of digital devices. Hence this survey emphasized the need for similar survey at regular interval.

Keywords: primary school children; rural tribal area; visual impairment; post COVID dryness.