Prevalence of Refractive Errors in 6-7 Years Old Children in the City of Fasa، Iran

Refractive errors are the fourth cause of blindness in the world, and if they are not recognized or corrected, they can expose the child to amblyopia and blindness. Epidemiological information is needed to prevent and detect refractive errors. .Due to the limited researches on refractive errors of children in Fars province, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of refractive errors and anisometropia in 6-7 years old children in the city of Fasa.
In this cross-sectional study, we used two-stage cluster stratified random sampling and selected 633 preschoolers. A total of 601 preschoolers were referred to clinic but 596 cases of all were examined. Results of cycloplegic refraction were recorded for statistical analysis.
In this study, the prevalence of myopia, hyperopia astigmatism and anisometropia were 6/54%, 10/57%, 32/55%, 3/02%, respectively. Also the rates of the prevalence of astigmatism were 24/16%with the rule, 7/21 % against the rule and 1/17%. oblique Prevalence of refractive errors in boys and girls respectively: myopia 8/01% and 5/17%, hyperopia 10/1% and 11%, astigmatism 31/35% and 33/65%, anisometropia 2/78% and 3/23 %. According to the chi-square test, there was no significant difference between girls and boys in refractive errors and anisometropia.
The prevalence of astigmatism according to thewith the rule, against the rule and oblique in boys and girl were as follows: (27/17% and 21/35%), (11/32% and 2/78%), (1/39% and 0/97 %). According to chi-square test, against the rule astigmatism were significantly more prevalent in girls than boys (p According to the result of the present study, astigmatism was the most prevalent refractive error in preschoolers in Fasa province. In comparison to the other studies the prevalence of hyperopia was average amount but myopia was almost high. Anisometropia was not a serious problem. According to the high level of astigmatism and myopia in this study, we recommend other studies should be accomplished in preschoolers in Fars.