Comparative Status of Refractive Errors between Male and Female School Going Children

Abstract

Background: Refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism can affect a child's academics and well-being. Investigating their occurrence in male and female schoolchildren is vital for equitable eye care and educational policies, sparking interest in pediatric ophthalmology and public health. Aim of the study: This study aimed to compare the refractive errors between male and female school-going children. Methods and Materials: This observational study took place at Narsingdi Eye Care & Research Centre in Bangladesh from January 2018 to December 2020. It involved 1978 schoolchildren who received detailed eye evaluations and best-corrected visual acuity assessments. Purposive sampling was used, and data analysis was conducted using MS Office tools. Results: Among the total participants (N=1978), in males (n=823), myopia was present in 72.1% of cases, while hypermetropia and astigmatism affected 6.7% and 28.7% of individuals, respectively. For females (n=1155), myopia remained prevalent, affecting 75.2% of participants, while hypermetropia and astigmatism contributed to 5.6% and 28.9% of cases, respectively. These findings highlighted the higher prevalence of myopia in both genders, with slightly more occurrence in females. Conclusion: The findings emphasize a higher prevalence of myopia in both male and female school-going children, with a slightly more pronounced occurrence in females. Additionally, hypermetropia and astigmatism, while less common, displayed consistent distribution patterns across both genders.