Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

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ISSN 1681-715X

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Volume 25

October - December 2009 (Part-II)

Number  6


 

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Vision screening among children in primary
schools in a district of western Turkey:
An epidemiological study

Alaettin Unsal1, Unal Ayranci2, Mustafa Tozun3

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of visual impairments among children in primary schools.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted between from November 1st to December 31st 2006. Visual acuity was determined with the Snellen’s E chart. Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity of d"20/40 in the better eye, as amblyopia if the difference in visual acuity between both eyes was 0.2d"dioptry, and as strabismus if the cover test was positive.

Results: Of the study group (n=1606), 53.7% (n=864) were boys and 46.3% (n=742) girls. The mean age of the participants was 10.52±2.28 (range 6-17), The girls had a higher frequency of a presenting visual impairment than boys (2.4% vs. 1.0%), (p<0.05). Twenty seven (1.7%) children presented with vision of d"20/40 in the better eye. The prevalence of presenting visual acuity for d"20/40 was significantly higher in children with glasses compared to the group of children without glasses (p<0.05). The prevalence of amblyopia was 5.0%, whereas that of strabismus was 1.7%.

Conclusions: The number of students with visual impairments was high, and many students were unaware of visual impairments and their risk factors.

KEY WORDS: Visual impairment, Aamblyopia, Strabismus, Primary school students.

Pak J Med Sci    October - December 2009 (Part-II)    Vol. 25 No. 6    976-981

How to cite this article:

Unsal A, Ayranci U, Tozun M. Vision screening among children in primary schools in a district of western Turkey: An epidemiological study. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(6):976-981.


1. Alaettin Unsal,
Professor, Dept of Public Health,
Eskisehir Osmangazi University,
26480 Meselik-Eskisehir/ Turkey.
2. Unal Ayranci,
Family Practitioner, Associate Prof,
Osmangazi University, Medico-Social Center,
26480 Meselik-Eskisehir/ Turkey.
3. Mustafa Tozun,
Specialist, Public Health Specialist,
Ministry of Health, Community Health Center,
26480 Yenikent-Eskisehir/ Turkey.

Correspondence

Dr. Unal Ayranci
Family Health Center,
Kurtulus Aile Sagligi Merkezi,
Vatan Cd. 9/A, Osmangazi University,
T.C.Eskisehi - Turkey.
E-mail: unalayrancioglu@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: June 12, 2009

* Revision Received: September 28, 2009

* Accepted: October 6, 2009



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