Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children

Umamaheswari Kannan; Anandhi Rajendiran; Dhanalakshmi Yeraballi; Karthik Shanmugavel; Nitin Ashok John; Senthamizhan Rene

doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

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Original Research
Online Published: 09 Jul 2016

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2016; 6(6): 554-558

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children

Umamaheswari Kannan, Anandhi Rajendiran, Dhanalakshmi Yeraballi, Karthik Shanmugavel, Nitin Ashok John, Senthamizhan Rene.

Cited By:22

Abstract
Background: Refractive error (RE) is one of the most common causes of visual impairment around the world and the second leading cause of treatable blindness. Lack of awareness about risk factors and complications that arise, are the reasons for an increasing trend an early age.

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed at finding the influence of risk factors on RE among rural and urban schoolchildren and its prevalence.

Materials and Methods: A total of 1300 schoolchildren in the age group of 6-12 years were screened for REs. Children with visual acuity <6/9 were referred for objective refraction. The various risk factors involved were assessed using a pretested questionnaire.

Results: The proportion of children with RE was significantly more in urban (17.5%) than in the rural area (12%). Myopia (14.6%) was the common RE in rural and urban children. Of the risk factors studied, duration of watching television (TV), distance from which TV was watched, duration of computer/video/mobile games, and the duration of play outside had a statistically significant association to the prevalence of RE.

Conclusion: This study proves that the risk factors associated with RE that can be avoided and helps in creating awareness to children, parents, and particularly, the teachers who play an important role in shaping the childs career and behavior. The necessity of proper and constant wear of spectacles should be emphasized.

Key words: Refractive Error; Risk Factors; School children; Prevalence

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Kannan U, Rajendiran A, Yeraballi D, Shanmugavel K, John NA, Rene S. Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2016; 6(6): 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

Web Style

Kannan U, Rajendiran A, Yeraballi D, Shanmugavel K, John NA, Rene S. Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=226618 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Kannan U, Rajendiran A, Yeraballi D, Shanmugavel K, John NA, Rene S. Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2016; 6(6): 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Kannan U, Rajendiran A, Yeraballi D, Shanmugavel K, John NA, Rene S. Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2016), [cited June 27, 2026]; 6(6): 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

Harvard Style

Kannan, U., Rajendiran, . A., Yeraballi, . D., Shanmugavel, . K., John, . N. A. & Rene, . S. (2016) Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 6 (6), 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

Turabian Style

Kannan, Umamaheswari, Anandhi Rajendiran, Dhanalakshmi Yeraballi, Karthik Shanmugavel, Nitin Ashok John, and Senthamizhan Rene. 2016. Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 6 (6), 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

Chicago Style

Kannan, Umamaheswari, Anandhi Rajendiran, Dhanalakshmi Yeraballi, Karthik Shanmugavel, Nitin Ashok John, and Senthamizhan Rene. "Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 6 (2016), 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Kannan, Umamaheswari, Anandhi Rajendiran, Dhanalakshmi Yeraballi, Karthik Shanmugavel, Nitin Ashok John, and Senthamizhan Rene. "Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 6.6 (2016), 554-558. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Kannan, U., Rajendiran, . A., Yeraballi, . D., Shanmugavel, . K., John, . N. A. & Rene, . S. (2016) Refractive error and associated risk factors in 6-12 years school children. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 6 (6), 554-558. doi:10.5455/njppp.2016.6.0410822062016

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