Prevalence of common visual problems among primary school children in Calabar Municipality, Nigeria

A study to determine the prevalence, types and degree of severity of ametropia, hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism among 956 primary school children from 10 selected schools in Calabar, Nigeria was conducted. Pre-tested questionnaires were administered by two ophthalmic nurses. Penlight examination, Hirschberg's test, fundoscopy with a direct ophthalmoscope without and when necessary, with pupillary dilation were performed by one optometrist. All subjects whose visual acuity were less than 6/6 in any eye, all who have at one time in their lives been given corrective glasses for error of refraction were refracted. When all cases of ametropia were considered, a prevalence of 14.9% was found. Hypermetropia predominated (7.8%), followed by myopia (3.6%) and astigmatism (3.5%). Ninety percent of the children with vision less than 6/6 in any eye could have their vision improved by refractive complications and disability. A total of 62.4% of these children with visual disability could have their functional vision in class improved without glasses by being moved to the front row in class. KEYWORDS: Ametropia, Primary School Children, Calabar, Nigeria (Global J Med Sci: 2003 2(1): 23-26