[The incidence of decreased visual acuity (far and near) among 5th- to 8th-grade pupils of the general education schools in the city of Chernovtsy].

Examination of 4159 pupils of the 5th-8th forms in schools of general education in a town of Chernovtsy has revealed decreased visual acuity for far in 16.2% and for near--in 30.3% of eyes. Decreased visual acuity for near with normal vision for far was revealed in 20.9% of the pupils. The incidence of decreased visual acuity was higher in winter than in autumn and spring. In conducting mass examinations of schoolchildren, it is recommended to determine visual acuity not only for far, but for near as well. In cases of decreased visual acuity for near (not lower than 0.8) it is not recommended to master professions connected with a strained visual load at a near distance.