Muhammad Irfan Sadiq, Waseem Ahmed Khan, Saba Haider Tarar, Kanwal Abbasi, Muhammad Usman Sadiq, Sara Najeeb.
Prevalence of Astigmatism in School Going Children in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Al-Shifa J Ophthalmol Jan ;14(2):86-91.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of astigmatism, and most common type of astigmatism among school going children in AJK. Study Design: Cross sectional observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in school going children in District Mirpur and District Bhimber AJK, Pakistan over a period of 6 months. Materials and Methods: An informed written consent was taken before the study. After that data was recorded at a self-designed proforma from both public sector as well as private schools of District Mirpur and Bhimber from 500 students. Each eye was considered as a separate individual data. Total 1000 eyes were taken for the study with the age ranging from 5 - 16 years. First visual acuity was measured monocularly by using Snellen`s visual acuity chart. In case of substandard vision, pinhole test was done to assess the maximum improvement after correction. The type and amount of astigmatism was calculated by using cycloplegic refraction. Results: We examined 1000 eyes of the 500 students of 5-16 years of age, with mean age of 10.12 +- 3.116 years including 328 (32.8%) male students and 672 (67.2%) female students. Astigmatism was seen maximum in 9-12 years age group. Astigmatism was seen in 308 eyes (30.8%), 212(68.83%) were females and 96(31.16%) were male. Out of which 162 (52.59%) had myopic astigmatism. 0.5 - 1.00 diopter cylinder (DC) was the most common amount and was present in 236 eyes (23.6%). Predominantly, With the rule myopic astigmatism was seen in 135eyes (43.83%). Conclusion: Myopic astigmatism and compound myopic astigmatism were more common among males and females and maximum in the age group of 09-12 years of age. With the rule (WTR) astigmatism was more prevalent.

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