Prevalence of Amblyogenic Risk Factors Among School Children in India Using the Spot Vision Screener

Prevalence of Amblyogenic Risk Factors Among School Children in India Using the Spot Vision Screener

Amblyopia is a common cause of preventable visual impairment in children, affecting 1% to 6% globally. This study assesses amblyopia prevalence and risk factors among school children in rural Telangana, India, using the Spot Vision Screener (Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, New York, USA), a po...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 8; p. e66977
Main Authors: Janti, Siddharam S, Alluri, Veera Manasa, Kolavai, Raghavendra Rao, Mali, Kalpana, Eereti, Sahithi, Kamble, Bhushan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Cureus Inc 16-08-2024
Cureus
Subjects:
Astigmatism
Children & youth
Cross-sectional studies
Eye examinations
Females
Gender
Medical personnel
Medical screening
Myopia
Ophthalmology
Pediatrics
Public Health
Risk factors
Rural areas
Strabismus
Students
India
anisometropia
refractive error
strabismus
amblyopia
spot vision screener
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Amblyopia is a common cause of preventable visual impairment in children, affecting 1% to 6% globally. This study assesses amblyopia prevalence and risk factors among school children in rural Telangana, India, using the Spot Vision Screener (Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, New York, USA), a portable, noninvasive device recommended for automated vision screening. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 schoolchildren aged 5-10 years. Screening was performed using the Spot Vision Screener, evaluating refractive errors, ocular alignment, and other amblyopia risk factors. Children identified with potential amblyogenic factors were referred for comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation to confirm diagnosis. Out of 714 children screened, 84 were referred by the Spot Vision Screener for further evaluation. Subsequent examination by ophthalmologists confirmed amblyopia in 65 children, resulting in a prevalence of 9.10%. Myopic refractive error was the most prevalent (69.23%), followed by astigmatism (21.53%) and hypermetropia (9.23%) among amblyopia cases. The Spot Vision Screener proved to be a reliable tool for identifying amblyopia risk factors in school children, facilitating early detection and referral for appropriate management. This study underscores the importance of implementing effective vision screening programs in rural settings to mitigate preventable childhood blindness.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.66977