Publication:

Community based cross-sectional survey to assess the conditions of refractive error by eye-screening program in remote area of Saifai, Etawah

Background Refractive error is a state where an optical system of the eye fails to bring parallel light rays on a point focus at the fovea, due to increase or decrease of the size of the eyeball through any reasons, changes in the refractive index of the component of the eyes or the age related factors.

Methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the systemic random sampling without repetitions (SRSWOR) method at the circumference area of 5 km of the Saifai Medical University UPUMS Saifai, Etawah (Uttar Pradesh). The data was collected through the rural program for the control of blindness. Among 1032 samples, for the refractive error, total 237 individuals were registered for the study through the screening programme.

Results The age group 0-19 years concludes 22 (9.28%), for 20-39 concludes 71 (22.95%), for 40-59 years concludes 101 (18.14%) and for the age group above 60, it was 43(48.94%) respectively. Among all the age groups a total of 22.96% responders were diagnosed for the prevalence of refractive error and it was observed more for females 50.63% as compared to males 49.36%.

Conclusions The prevalence of refractive errors refers to the age group of 40-59 years, so for early diagnosis eye care must be included at a particular time difference at a community level through an eye screening program for all the age groups with the main intention to give special cover to the age group of 40-59 years.