Distribution of Refractive Errors and Quantified Optometric Values in Urban Elementary Fourth Graders in Korea

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the distribution of ocular diseases, refractive errors, and quantified optometric values in urban elementary 4th graders in Korea. METHODS: A total of 234 schoolchildren were assessed in a population-based, cross-sectional study. The examination included uncorrected and corrected visual acuity measurements, corneal refractive power measurements using an autokeratometer (KR-8100, Topcon(R) Inc., Japan), ocular motility evaluation, slit-lamp biomicroscopy for the anterior segment and media, the measurements of anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and axial length using an A-scan ultrasound biometry (A/B-scan system 835, Humphrey(R) Inc., Dublin, CA), retinoscopy under cycloplegia, and fundus examination. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of strabismus, epiblepharon, and amblyopia were 1.3%, 2.6%, and 1.7%, respectively. Mean visual acuity was -0.18 +/- 0.31 LogMAR. The prevalence rates of myopia (or=+1.00 D SE), and anisometropia (SE difference>or=1.00 D) were 46.2%, 7.3% and 5.9%, respectively. The means of corneal refractive power, axial length, and anterior chamber depth were 43.29 +/- 1.45 D, 23.42 +/- 1.26 mm, and 3.29 +/- 0.30 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We assessed the distribution of ocular diseases, refractive errors, and quantified optometric values in a population-based study. The results showed that increases in the prevalence of reduced vision and myopia are an important public health problem in urban elementary 4th graders in Korea.