| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 7
| Issue : 2 | Page : 61-64 |
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Prevalence and distribution of ocular morbidities among primary school children in Goa
Shekhar O Akarkar1, Pradeep G Naik1, Jagadish A Cacodcar2
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India
2 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India
Correspondence Address:
Shekhar O Akarkar
Department of Ophthalmology, Goa Medical College, Bambolim - 403 202, Goa
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jcor.jcor_34_18
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Background: Early detection and treatment of ocular morbidity among children is important. Eye screening of school children is useful in detecting the correctable causes of decreased vision, especially refractive errors and minimizing long-term visual disability. This information is essential to plan eye care programs to reduce the burden of visual impairment among them. There is a lack of community studies on ocular morbidity on primary school children in Goa. Aim: The aim was to study the prevalence and distribution of common ocular morbidities among primary schoolchildren in Goa. Settings: This is a community-based study in government and private primary educational schools in Goa. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 817 children aged 6–10 years from five primary schools in Goa were screened for detecting ophthalmic problems. Statistical Analysis Used: Proportions and percentages were used. Results: The prevalence of ocular morbidities was 13.22%, and they included refractive errors (9.55%) (predominantly myopia [62.82%]), strabismus (1.1%), conjunctivitis (1.1%), lid swelling (0.74%), and color blindness (0.15%). Conclusion: A high prevalence of ocular morbidity was observed among primary school children. Refractive errors were the most common ocular disorders.
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