RESUMO
The objective of this work is to find out the pattern of eye problems in School-going children of ages 6 to 15 years. The current work designed as descriptive and cross sectional study. All students of schools/ Madaris [religious schools] of district Lasbela were screened during the first week of February 2001 to 30[th] September 2002. all students of Schools/ Madaris of district Lasbela were included in the study. Visual acuity was measured using Standard Snellen's chart; external examination was carried out with the help of torch and Direct Ophthalmoscope. Children with VA<6/12 were refracted to best correction. The team included a community ophthalmologist, an ophthalmologist, an ophthalmic technician and a community social worker. Structured questionnaire was prepared and operational methods were field tested and refined by piloting at the outpatient of Eye Department, JPMC abbreviation for what?. Ophthalmic technician with community social worker checked vision of all students. Ophthalmologist examined the children for any abnormality and refracted children with VA<6/12. All schools and madaris of the target area were visited. The results showed that out of 25437 examined school going children, 77.16% were found to be normal and 22.84% had some ocular problem. When main stream schools were compared to madaris for any eye abnormality, the respective figures were 20.7% to 34.34 as an appreciable difference. Amblyopia 0.24% [0.21% to 0.37], Blephritis 0.146%, [1,46 to 1.44], cataract 0.17 [0.17 to 0.19], Conjunctivitis 11.10% [10.03 to 17.00], glaucoma 0.007% [0.005 to 0.02], nystagmus 0.10% [0.10 to 0.07], ptosis 0.12% [0.14 to 0.04], refractive errors 2.90% [2.14 to 7.00], squint 0.45% [0.45 to 0.54], VADD 3.29% [3.29 to 3.14], vernal catarrh 1.90% [1.62 to 3.33], non-specific 1.01% [0.98 to 1.19]. Appreciable difference is noted in conjunctivitis, refractive errors and spring catarrh. It was concluded that schools screening could play an important role in promotion of eye health and prevention of childhood blindness. It should be an important component of any program of [prevention and control of blindness]