Janti Siddharam S, Alluri Veera Manasa, Kolavai Raghavendra Rao, Mali Kalpana, Eereti Sahithi, Kamble Bhushan
Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Bibinagar, IND.
Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Bibinagar, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 16;16(8):e66977. doi: 10.7759/cureus.66977. eCollection 2024 Aug.
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.
弱视是儿童可预防视力损害的常见原因，全球患病率为1%至6%。本研究使用点视力筛查仪（美国纽约州斯卡奈特勒斯福尔斯韦尔奇·阿林公司）评估印度特伦甘纳邦农村地区学童的弱视患病率及危险因素，该仪器是一种推荐用于自动视力筛查的便携式非侵入性设备。
对714名5至10岁的学童进行了横断面研究。使用点视力筛查仪进行筛查，评估屈光不正、眼位及其他弱视危险因素。被识别出有潜在弱视成因因素的儿童被转介至眼科进行全面评估以确诊。
在714名接受筛查的儿童中，有84名被点视力筛查仪转介作进一步评估。眼科医生随后的检查确诊65名儿童患有弱视，患病率为9.10%。在弱视病例中，近视屈光不正最为常见（69.23%），其次是散光（21.53%）和远视（9.23%）。
点视力筛查仪被证明是识别学童弱视危险因素的可靠工具，有助于早期发现并转介至适当治疗。本研究强调在农村地区实施有效视力筛查计划以减少可预防的儿童失明的重要性。
