Significant refractive errors as seen in standard eight pupils attending public schools in Langata division, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

A cross sectional community based study of significant refractive errors as seen III standard eight pupils attending public schools in Langata Division, Nairobi Province, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of significant refractive errors, the proportions of different types of refractive errors and estimate the proportions of uncorrected significant refractive errors in the study population. Method: All the children attending public schools in standard eight in Langata Division who were present during the survey were included. Those absent were excluded. The class register was used to estimate the population size. All standard eight pupils in the selected schools were examined. Data was collected on examination sheet that had been prepared (see appendix A). This was stored in a floppy diskette and analyzed later using SPSS. A case was defined as a pupil with significant refractive error. All students with visual acuity worse than 6/12 who were not improving to a visual acuity of 6/6, cycloplegic refraction was done. Refractive error was determined by taking visual acuity using the Snellens chart. Results: The total number of students examined was 1253. There were 611 males and 642 females. The population mean age was 14.5 (range 11.9-17.9) years and population median was 14.4 years. The population standard deviation was 0.90 years. The prevalence of significant myopia was 10.2% (128 out of 1253), hypermetropia 0.3% (4/1253) and astigmatism 0.5% (611253) students. Conclusion: Significant refractive errors were found among primary school children aged 11 to 17 years at a prevalence of 10.2%(12811253).The prevalence of myopia was 9.4% (118/1253), hypermetropia 0.3% (411253) and astigmatism 0.5% (611253).