Dr.SONALI SINGH

Dr.SUKRITI AHUJA, Dr. GEETHA SRINIVASAN

Abstract

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of refractive errors and amblyopia in a tertiary care pediatric ophthalmology department and compare with other ethnicities.

Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary eye hospital in North India from January 2016 to January 2019.

Results: Of all patients analyzed, a total of 2121 children were found to have a refractive error. Analysis by age revealed 305 children between 2-5 years, 1160 between 5-10 years and 656 above 10 years of age.

Analysis of various refractive errors showed Myopia (22.44%) of which Low myopia were 72.44%, Hyperopia (3.89%) of which Low were 86% and Astigmatism of which there were 72.67% ; 24.59% with Simple Myopic Astigmatism, Compound Myopic Astigmatism 29.66%, Simple Hyperopic Astigmatism 9.01%,Compound Hyperopic Astigmatism 5.21% and Mixed Astigmatism 5.20%.

Conclusions: Astigmatism was the highest refractive error detected in our population followed by myopia. Mandatory preschool screening is suggested.