Waseem Ahmed Khan, Saba Haider Tarar, Mohammad Irfan Sadiq, Ammara Ajaz, Muhammad Usman Sadiq, Sara Najeeb.
Screening of Common Eye Problems in Children by School Teachers and Eye Health Workers.
Al-Shifa J Ophthalmol Jan ;14(3):127-32.

Objective: To assess the common eye problems in Children by ophthalmologists and optometrists along with the school teachers. Study Design: Cross sectional observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in school going children in District Kotli and District Bhimber, AJK, Pakistan from 1st October 2017 to 31st September 2018. Materials and Methods: The data was calculated by simple random sampling technique and sample size was calculated by WHO sample size calculator with 95% confidence interval. After taking consent, data was collected through a self-designed proforma from both public sector and private schools of District Kotli and Bhimber. A team of teachers from each school was trained by conducting workshops to detect visual deficit, squint, and red eye. Eye examination kit consisting of vision chart, three-meter rope, first aid material for eye was provided. The screening was carried out at the community level initially and the affected children were referred for further examination to DHQ, Teaching Hospital, Mirpur, AJK, Pakistan. Results: A total of 20,389 children with age range from 5 years to 17 years (mean 9.7 years) were screened by the teachers. Out of these screened children 750 (3.67%) were brought to our hospital. From the screened children, 323 (43%) had positive findings. The most commonly encountered condition was refractive errors which were present in 153 (20.4%) children followed by Squint 120 (16%) children. Conjunctivitis was also seen in 15 (2%) children and allergic eyes were 1.7% of screened and referred children. Apart from these, occasional cases of blepharitis, chalazion, stye and cataract were also observed. Conclusion: School screening programs can play an essential role in the betterment of eye health and the avoidance of preventable blindness among school going children in Pakistan.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com