Ocular Morbidity among 3 to 6 Year Old Children Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Study Thomas Jyothi1, Gogate Parikshit M2, Rajashekar BB3, Kamath Asha4, Jacob George P4 1Assistant Professor-selection grade, Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital, Pune 3Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India 4Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical, College, Manipal University, Manipal, India Online published on 18 July, 2017. Abstract Introduction Preschool children are reported to have visual deficits ranging from 5 to 29%. Children are unable to understand their symptoms, communicate it, hence early detection and intervention remains a challenge. Usually there is no manifestation of the visual disorder and are unheeded. Purpose To determine the ocular morbidity among 3 to 6 year old children visiting a tertiary care hospital. Method and procedures Ethical Committee approval was obtained. Children with developmental delay, non co-operation and parental reluctance were exclusion criteria for the study. Each child was assessed with E chart for vision, stereo acuity measurement with randot preschool, dry refraction, anterior and posterior segment evaluation and cycloplegic refraction. Descriptive statistics and chi square tests were employed for statistical analysis Results Two hundred eyes (100 participants) were analyzed. 52% were boys and 48% girls. Mean age was 64.6± 12.3 months. Refractive error was observed in 80 eyes(40%), 45 eyes(22.5%) had amblyopia, anterior segment disorders were noted in 24 eyes (12%) and squint observed in 5 eyes(2.5%). Conclusion Refractive error, amblyopia, anterior segment disorders, squint and posterior segment pathology were the ocular morbidity found in 3 to 6 year old children. Top Keywords Ocular morbidity, preschool, visual disorders, refractive error. Top |