Simple vision screening in lower primary school children in Port Harcourt city

Abstract

Background: Vision disorders are significant causes of morbidity worldwide and in children, can lead to life long visual impairment or blindness. Thus, the impact on a child's education and life if not detected and ameliorated on time, can constitute a huge socio-economic burden to the child, family and community.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of reduced vision in lower primary school children in Port Harcourt city.

Methods: A multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 1,234 lower primary school pupils from 12 schools in Port Harcourt for visual screening. Visual acuity (VA) measurements using Snelling's charts, and a basic eye examination using a pen torch was carried out in all the pupils. Vision was regarded as reduced if VA is < 6/18, in which case a pinhole was presented to the affected eye and VA repeated, to check for presence of refractive error. 

Results: A total of 1,234 school children were screened, 73 pupils had reduced vision in one or both eyes giving a prevalence of 5.9%. Refractive errors accounted for 72.6% of cases of reduced vision. Gross external eye abnormalities accounted for 9.6% of cases of reduced vision, with corneal opacity and nystagmus being the most commonly seen.  

Conclusion: Reduced vision is an important cause of visual disability in primary school pupils in Port Harcourt city, mostly due to correctable refractive errors. There is therefore a need for routine vision screening of all pupils, especially on commencement of school for early detection and treatment, to prevent life long visual disability.

Key words: Reduced vision, Primary school children, Port Harcourt city