Comparison of ocular pathologies between children attending rural and urban schools in south india: A retrospective analysis
Aims: To assess the differences in ocular morbidity with/without visual impairment between rural and urban school-going children using a two-step screening strategy. Methods: Data obtained by a hospital team from school camps conducted between the 1st of February 2019 and the 31st of December 2019,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | TNOA Journal of Ophthalmic Science and Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.tnoajosr.com/article.asp?issn=2589-4528;year=2022;volume=60;issue=3;spage=240;epage=245;aulast=Chakrabarty |
| Summary: | Aims: To assess the differences in ocular morbidity with/without visual impairment between rural and urban school-going children using a two-step screening strategy. Methods: Data obtained by a hospital team from school camps conducted between the 1st of February 2019 and the 31st of December 2019, in schools with a strength of at least 1,000 students were reviewed retrospectively. The differences in ocular pathologies between the rural and urban cohorts were evaluated. A P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 25,132 students (nurban = 12,562; nrural = 12,570), 14.44% (nurban = 1,585; nrural = 2,044; P < 0.001) were selected for evaluation by the hospital team after a primary screening by their class teachers. A statistically significant difference was noted in the frequency of refractive errors (urban = 6.8%; rural = 6.0%; P = 0.01), allergic conjunctivitis (urban = 0.2%; rural = 0.05%; P = 0.001), and amblyopia (urban = 0.03%; rural = 0.12%; P = 0.009) between urban and rural children. Simple and compound myopic astigmatism were significantly more common in urban children (p < 0.001 and 0.03 respectively). There was no significant difference in the incidence of spectacle use (P = 0.11) between the two cohorts. A Cochran--Armitage trend test revealed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of myopia with age among the children evaluated by the hospital team (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Allergic eye disease and myopic astigmatism are commoner in urban children. Routine ophthalmic screening is required to identify uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia, especially in rural school children. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2589-4528 2589-4536 |