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Volume 2024, Issue 2
  • EISSN: 3008-0738

Abstract

Pediatric vision impairment (VI) has profound implications for a child's development, intellectual skills, and quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of VI among primary and preparatory school students in Qatar.

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among students in grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 in Qatar. School nurses conducted visual acuity (VA) measurement using a Snellen chart placed 6 meters away, with an E symbol, in which the 6/6 line is the standard for normal vision. Each student's information was recorded in their electronic health records (government schools, GSs) or in Excel sheets (private schools, PSs).

Three hundred and thirty schools participated in this survey, with 99,379 students divided into 45,670 from GSs and 53,709 from PSs. The prevalence of abnormal VA among students was 10.4% in GSs and 12.6% in PSs. There was no significant association between VI and gender or nationality, although VI was higher in grades 5, 7, and 9 but not statistically significant. Furthermore, the proportion of visually impaired students diagnosed with refractive errors and wearing glasses or contact lenses during vision measurement was 14.7% in GSs and 27% in PSs.

The study provides comprehensive and baseline data on VI among the school children of Qatar. The vision screening helped in the early detection of VI in one-tenth of the affected students. However, urgent interventions are needed to enhance screening strategies for future studies on the causes of VI.

© 2024 Author(s), licensee HBKU Press.
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2024-10-30
2024-11-07
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/content/journals/10.5339/qjph.2024.15
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Vision impairment in school students: Results of a school-based study in Qatar
QJPH 2024, 15 (2024); https://doi.org/10.5339/qjph.2024.15
/content/journals/10.5339/qjph.2024.15
/content/journals/10.5339/qjph.2024.15
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): eye test, Qatar, school students, vision impairment and visual acuity measurements
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