TITLE:
Prevalence of Refractive Errors among School Children Aged 5 to 15 Years Old at CHU-IOTA
AUTHORS:
Kadiatou Ba, Aichata Tall, Mory Coulibaly, Cheick Sogodogo, Zoumana Bagayogo, Aoua Ibrahim Toure, Ousmane Toure, Brainima Coulibaly, Fatoumata Tata Sidibe, Aly Konipo, Roucky Sangare, Seydou Diallo, Moro Sidibe, Oumar Diallo, Assiatou Simaga, Gounon Saye, Modibo Sissoko, Mamadou Kole Sidibe, Sidi Diarra, Nouhoum Guirou, Abdoulaye Napo, Adama Guindo
KEYWORDS:
Refractive Errors, Prevalence, Child, CHU-IOTA
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.15 No.8,
August
21,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Undetected refractive errors constitute a health problem among school children who cannot take advantage of educational opportunities. The authors studied the prevalence of refractive errors in school children aged 5 to 15 at CHU-IOTA. Patients and Method: This is a prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in the ophthalmic-pediatrics department of CHU-IOTA, from October to November 2023. Results: We received 340 school children aged 5 to 15, among whom 111 presented ametropia, i.e. a prevalence of 32.65%. The average age was 11.42 ± 2.75 years and a sex ratio of 0.59. The average visual acuity was 4/10 (range 1/10 and 10/10). We found refractive defects: astigmatism 73.87%, hyperopia 23.87% of cases and myopia 2.25%. The decline in distance visual acuity was the most common functional sign. Ocular abnormalities associated with ametropia were dominated by allergic conjunctivitis (26.13%) and papillary excavation (6.31%) in astigmatics; allergic conjunctivitis (9.01%) and papillary excavation (7.20%) in hyperopic patients; turbid vitreous (0.90%), myopic choroidosis (0.45%) and allergic conjunctivitis (0.45%) in myopes. Conclusion: Refractive errors constitute a reality and a major public health problem among school children.