Prevalence and Patterns of Refractive Error Among School-Age Children in Bisha, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A widespread and serious eye condition is a refractive error (RE). Globally, uncorrected refractive defects affect numerous individuals, with some who are blind. Numerous studies in Saudi Arabia have been conducted to assess reflective error. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding RE among school-age children in Bisha province, southwest Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of RE among school-age children in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involved 360 schoolchildren from primary schools was carried out between December 2022 and November 2023 in Bisha. A validated questionnaire form was used to collect sociodemographic information and clinical data (history of the ocular problem, visual acuity test findings, and the refractor machine's result). RESULT: A total of 360 schoolchildren aged from seven to 14 years, with a mean of 10.1 years (standard deviation (SD)=2.05). The prevalence of hyperopia was 21% in the right eye and 23% in the left eye. In addition, the prevalence of myopia was 20% in the right eye and 22.5% in the left eye. A significant association between visual acuity and myopia (p=0.001). By contrast, there was no significant correlation between hyperopia and visual acuity (p=0.412). CONCLUSION: The current study summarized the prevalence of REs among school-age children in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. The study population included nearly half of those with at least some degree of RE. These results highlight the need for prompt and careful screening programs to detect and treat refractive disorders across this age range.