Seema Qayyum.
Refractive state of children in less than five years of age.
J Surg Pak Jan ;11(2):73-5.

Objective: To assess the refractive errors and related visual impairment in pre-school children attending the outdoor clinic. Study Design: Descriptive study Place and Duration of study: Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology at The Children`s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Lahore, from January 2005 to December 2005 Patient and Methods: Children aged 1-5 years attending the outdoor clinic were included in the study.The examination included visual acuity measurements, ocular motility evaluation and retinoscopy under cycloplegia, and examination of the anterior segment, media, and fundus. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refractive error of at least -0.50 D and hyperopia as +2.00 D or more. Results: A total of 410 children under the age of 5 years were examined for the refractive state of the eye.143 (34.8%) were hypermetropic, 104 (25.3%) were myopic, 5.1% hnd hypermetropic astigmatism whereas 8.2% had myopic astigmatism. 106 (25.8%) children had emmetropia. Conclusion: Refractive errors are a significant cause of decrease vision in pre-school children and if timely intervention is not done may lead to visual deficit in the years to come. Early screening of refractive state of the eye should be included in the preliminary pediatric examination and should be repeated in the following years of childhood.

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