Refractive error among school children of Oman

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Refractive error among school children of Oman

• Ms Bushra Al Jabri
• Bsc (Optometry UK)
• Al Nahdhah Hospital, Muscat, Oman

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Eye care for students
Early detection
School refractionist
Care
Follow up
Ophthalmologists
Low Vision Therapist
Health education to students
Increasing awareness of the community parents
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Levels of intervention

• Before entry in 1st Std Vision eye screening
• 4th Std Vision
  screening
• 7th Std Vision
  screening
• 10th Std Vision
  screening

Primary schooling Coverage is 90 to 100 in Oman
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Refractive error

• All other regions
• Vision screening in schools
• Refractive services in schools
• Provision of low cost spectacles
• Following the students with glasses
• HIMS regional report.

• Muscat region
• Vision screening at PHC
• Refractive services at Baucher EHC
• Provision of spectacles of low cost?
• Follow up of children ?
• Only HIMS

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Procedures

• Trained nurses of PHC
• Early part of sch year
• 3 meter distance
• Old system
• Whom to refer
• Use of appraisal report
• Note in pupil health record

Lea Symbol vision chart
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Refractive services

• By school refractionists
• Portable trial set and manual refraction
• Cycloplegia if needed (hypermetropia)
• Fogging to rule out accommodative spasm
• Give prescription if
• Low cost spectacles
• Follow up for compliance
• Minor maintenance

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9-10 yrs
5-6 yrs
n 38,503 1.95
n 31,894 0.03
0.25
0.04
12-13yrs
16-17yrs
n 43,670 4.55
n 42,765 8.05
0.35
0.34
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16-17 yr
12-13yrs
9-10 yrs
5-6 yrs
RR 1.17 (0.86 1.58)
RR 1.39 (1.20 1.60)
RR 1.57 (1.47 1.68)
RR 1.31 (1.20 1.43)
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Summary

• Since 1992, Ref error in growing children is
  given due attention in Oman.
• Myopia is higher in female than male
• Compliance of spectacle needs improvement
  barriers to it needs attention
• Preschool screening could help in discontinuing
  school entry eye screening.
• Training and quality checks are must to maintain
  gains

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Thank You
Nurses doctors Regional school
refractionists School authorities and
teachers Students their parents