Prevalence and pattern of refractive error and visual impairment among schoolchildren: the Lhasa childhood eye study
The Lhasa Childhood Eye Study (LCES) focused on assessing eye health in grade one schoolchildren in Lhasa, Tibet. The study involved 1,943 children aged around 6.78 years. Results showed a prevalence of visual impairment, with 12.2% having uncorrected visual acuity issues, 11.7% presenting visual acuity problems, and 2.7% having issues even with the best-corrected visual acuity. Refractive errors were found in 78.0% of children with bilateral visual impairment. Myopia was present in 4.7%, hyperopia in 12.1%, and astigmatism in 44.8% of the children. Hyperopia was linked to female gender, but there were no significant ethnic differences in refractive errors. The study emphasized the importance of early ocular screening and the need for strategies like corrective spectacles to address treatable visual impairment in Tibetan schoolchildren. It also highlighted the unique challenges posed by the region's environment and economic conditions. The study's findings suggested that a significant proportion of visual impairment cases in Tibetan children could be corrected or prevented with proper eye care and public health interventions.