Jornal de Oftalmologia Clínica e Experimental
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Distribution of Refractive Errors Among School Children Aged 5 to 15 Years in MGBIDI, AWGU L.G.A., Enugu State, Nigeria

Ihesiu lor Grand Chikezie, Ekenechi Uche, Ifeanyi Freeman, Ubani Ahanna Udo

This research work determined the distribution of refractive errors among school children aged 5 to 15 years in Mgbidi, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. A total of 416 school children from 4 schools; 2 primary schools and 2 secondary schools were assessed. School children with cognitive problems were not included in the study. Visual acuities were taken using Snellen’s distance visual acuity chart and Jaeger’s acuity card for far and near visual acuities respectively. Refraction was carried out using retinoscope and trial lenses for objective and subjective refraction respectively. Spherical equivalent was employed for cylindrical corrections. Hyperopia occurred more than myopia in the population. The hyperopia power range of +0.25 D to < +1.00 D increased from 7.6% in the population of 3 to <8 years old, to 51.7% in the population of 12 to<15 years old. It then reduced to 24.6% in the 15 years and above. At 5% confidence level this was not significant, null hypothesis was accepted (F-cal=0.42 was less than F-tab=4.07). The high prevalence of hyperopia in the study population could be due to the less near work activities like computer games by the schoolchildren as Mgbidi is a rural community.