Koura, M., Abou-Samra, A. (2001). Occurrence of Eye Disorders among Children in a Rural Desert Area of Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 31(4), 817-832. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225984
Manal R. Koura; Al-Hosseiny K. Abou-Samra. "Occurrence of Eye Disorders among Children in a Rural Desert Area of Alexandria". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 31, 4, 2001, 817-832. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225984
Koura, M., Abou-Samra, A. (2001). 'Occurrence of Eye Disorders among Children in a Rural Desert Area of Alexandria', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 31(4), pp. 817-832. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225984
Koura, M., Abou-Samra, A. Occurrence of Eye Disorders among Children in a Rural Desert Area of Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2001; 31(4): 817-832. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225984
Occurrence of Eye Disorders among Children in a Rural Desert Area of Alexandria
1Primary Health Care Division, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Consultant Ophthalmology, FRCSEd
Abstract
Background: The control of childhood blindness is considered a high priority within the WHO's "Vision 2020- the Right to Sight" program, as many of its causes are avoidable. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of eye disorders among children less than 16 years enrolled in educational facilities in Elnahda rural desert area, Alexandria. Methods: 914 preparatory, primary and pre-school children were invited to the health center and examined by the researchers according to WHO/PBL [Prevention of Blindness] eye examination sheet. Mothers of pre-school children were interviewed about their environmental and housing conditions. Results: revealed that more than one fifth of studied children were suffering from eye disorders. About 88% of the cases were due to avoidable causes. About 20% had refractive errors, however only 2.8% of them were wearing eyeglasses. Thus, the condition resulted in anisometropic amblyopia in 4.4% of the study sample. Five percent of children had poor vision [Presenting Visual Acuity (PVA) <6/12 in the better eye], 2% were visually impaired [PVA <6/18 in the better eye] and 0.2% were severely visually impaired [PVA <6/60 in the better eye]. Four cases [0.4%] of unilateral blindness were detected, two of them were due to trauma and the other two due to amblyopia. Trachoma affected 10.6% of the sample, 2.9% was active [trachomatous inflammation- follicular & intense] and 7.7% was trachomatous scarring, but no cases of trichiasis or corneal opacity were detected. Trachoma was significantly more common among girls than boys. The relatively low prevalence of trachoma may be attributed to the improved environmental conditions of study area, as 87% of households were supplied with tap water and all families had latrines and cesspools for sewage disposal. Consanguineous marriages were detected in 42.6% of the study sample. Refractive errors, strabismus and nystagmus were more common among children of consanguineous parents than among others. Conclusion: It can be concluded that causes of childhood visual impairment are changing from nutritional and infectious diseases to genetically determined diseases in Elnahda area. However, the rate of eye disorders was still high, as more than one fifth of studied children were affected and 88% of the cases were due to avoidable causes.
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