School Eye Health Screening In A Province In the Democratic Republic of Congo-A Pilot Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out the baseline prevalence of ocular ailments in school going children in Goma province of Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition conscious effort was made to educate the children, their teachers, as well as parents about various aspects of maintaining good ocular health. Materials & Methods: A total 900 children of 8 schools in Goma province were screened, over a period of 3months. Visual acuity was tested with alphabet or E-chart. Color vision defects tested with Ishihara’s pseudoisochromatic plates. Children below 6 years of age were asked to trace lines on plates. Results: Male children were 55.33% and females were 44.66%. The most common ocular ailment detected was uncorrected refractive errors in 15%  children. Myopia (41%) was the most common refractive error. Allergic conjunctivitis was the second most common cause of ocular morbidity (7.22%), other ocular ailment are as follows corneal opacities (2.67%), pterygium (0.67%), Cataract (1.22%), uveitis (0.89%) and squint was seen in (0.44%). Conclusion: this being the first school eye health screening program, could be a guideline for further surveys and help in implementation of school eye health programs in the province, thus reducing the quantum of preventable blindness.