Abstract

Background: The number of people worldwide with refractive errors has been expected from 800 million to 2.3 billion. Refractive error as a cause for blindness has not received much attention, because several explanations of blindness have been established on best-corrected distance visual acuity, including the definition used in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. So, this study was conducted to study the occurrence of eye problems.
Objective: To study the occurrence of eye problems such as refractory error among children of 10–18 years in urban and rural areas of Ahmedabad district and provide epidemiological data, appropriate suggestions, and recommendations for National Health Programs of Adolescent.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,032 urban and 1,043 rural children of 10–18 years of age during the period December 2012–December 2014. Result: In this study, refractory error was found among 7.28% of children. The occurrence of refractory error was found to be 8.53% among urban children when compared with 6.04% among rural children. Conclusion: Refractory error was found higher among urban children when compared with rural children. Statistical difference was found significant. It was found much higher among schoolchildren when compared with nonschoolchildren.