A retrospective study of eye disease among first grade children in Los Angeles.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of ocular disease among children in one school district in Los Angeles, California was studied to better understand the types of eye disorders among this population as well as to develop appropriate preventive programs.

METHODS

A computer-assisted retrospective analysis of date was performed from charts of 2,204 first grade children examined in the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic.

RESULTS

One or more ocular disorders were observed in 22.3 percent of the subjects. Uncorrected best monocular visual acuity was 20/40 or worse in 3.4 percent of the children. Refractive errors were diagnosed in 15.7 percent of the subjects, astigmatism in 7.6 percent, hyperopia in 6.2 percent, and myopia in 6.0 percent. Color vision deficiencies (red-green) were found in 2.6 percent of boys. The prevalences of heterophorias and heterotropias were 1.2 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The variety of ocular disorders diagnosed in this demographic setting attests to the importance of performing early and effective screening eye examinations for children.