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Prevalence of myopia and its risk factors in rural school children in North India: the North India myopia rural study (NIM-R Study)

Eye (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

To assess the prevalence of myopia and its risk factors in rural school children.

Methods

Children in classes 4–7 of eight randomly selected schools (five government and three private) in rural Haryana, with unaided vision <6/9.5 were screened, their cycloplegic refraction is done, myopes were identified. A questionnaire-based assessment of risk factors was done for myopes and compared with 10% of randomly selected children with normal vision (controls). The prevalence of myopia and its association with risk factors were assessed.

Results

Children screened were 1486 (89.5% coverage). The mean age of children was 11.2 ± 1.5 years with 861 (57.9%) boys. Prevalence of myopia was 6.4% (95% Confidence intervals [CI]: 5.2%, 7.8%). Prevalence was higher among private schools (10.1%) compared to government schools (1.4%) (p < 0.001), and among girls 7.2% (45/625) compared to boys 5.8% (50/861) (p = 0.2786). The mean spherical equivalent refractive error was −1.61D ± 1.32D. The prevalence of high myopia was 1.1% (1/95). There was a 75% unmet need for spectacles. Studying in private school was positively associated with myopia as per our multivariate analysis (p = 0.016). An inverse association was found for time spent outdoors (p = 0.009). Watching television, indoor time, screen time, age, or gender were not found to be statistically significant as risk factors.

Conclusion

The prevalence of myopia is increasing among children of rural areas, especially those in private schools with a strong inverse association with time spent outdoors. Regular screening, lifestyle modification and awareness about modifiable risk factors are essential.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of all school principals and teachers for their support. We also acknowledge the contribution of Mr. Deepak towards data analysis.

Funding

The study was funded through Grant number E-1475/390/2015 of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The funds were for school visits, data collection and analysis. None of the authors are employed by the funding agency (www.dst.gov.in). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Rohit Saxena & Priyanka Prasad

  2. Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Vivek Gupta, Amit Bhardwaj & Praveen Vashist

Authors
  1. Rohit Saxena
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  2. Vivek Gupta
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  3. Priyanka Prasad
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  4. Amit Bhardwaj
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  5. Praveen Vashist
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Contributions

R.S.—Concept and editing of the manuscript. V.G.—conduction of the study and data collection. P.P.—preparation of manuscript A.B.—data analysis. P.V.—conduction of the study and data collection.

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Correspondence to Rohit Saxena.

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Saxena, R., Gupta, V., Prasad, P. et al. Prevalence of myopia and its risk factors in rural school children in North India: the North India myopia rural study (NIM-R Study). Eye (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01797-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01797-3

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