The prevalence of astigmatism among 7-year-old school children in Gua Musang district: post Covid-19 home confinement

C.S., Syarmilla and I., Nur Liyana and M.Z., Nurulain and A. A., Aznor Azwan and S., Ahmad Ziad and A.R., Suraida and I., Ismarulyusda and Abdul Rahim, Muhammad Afzam Shah (2021) The prevalence of astigmatism among 7-year-old school children in Gua Musang district: post Covid-19 home confinement. Malaysian Journal of Ophthalmology, 3 (4). pp. 73-74. ISSN 2665-9557 E-ISSN 2665-9565

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Abstract

Background: Uncorrected refractive error, including astigmatism remains the major cause of preventable blindness worldwide. The outbreak and spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have greatly impacted education systems worldwide. This study investigated the refractive changes and prevalence of astigmatism in 7-year-old school children in Gua Musang District post COVID-19 home confinement. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, vision screening was conducted on 1832 school children aged 7-year-old, from 13 schools in Gua Musang District, Kelantan. Students that failed the screening were referred to Hospital Gua Musang and undergone cycloplegic refraction. Results: A total of 37 students [33 Malay (89.2%) and 4 Chinese (10.8%)] failed the screening (with visual acuity of less than 6/9). Gender wise, there were 18 males (48.6%) and 19 females (51.4%). The cycloplegic refraction revealed that 9 students (24.3%) had myopia with astigmatism, 14 students (37.85%) had hyperopia with astigmatism, and the other 14 students (37.85%) had astigmatism only. The prevalence of astigmatism post- COVID-19 home confinement was statistically significantly higher (X2=24.96, p<0.001) compared to pre-COVID-19 home confinement (3.5% vs 0.3%). When only the astigmatism component was analysed, all students were found to have with the-rule astigmatism, with 24 students (72.97%) having astigmatism between -1.00DC to -2.75DC, and 10 students (27.03%) having -3.00DC and above. Children with astigmatism showed significantly (X2= 1673.6, p<0.001) visual impairment (uncorrected visual acuity ≥ 6/9) compared to children with no astigmatism (97.1% vs 0.1%). Conclusion: Home confinement during COVID-19 among children appeared to cause a significant astigmatism shift in our study population. Further studies are required to reveal causal relationships with the inter-related factors of near work activity and outdoor activity time.

Item Type:	Article (other)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy
Depositing User:	Muhammad Afzam Shah Abdul Rahim
Date Deposited:	27 Dec 2021 16:51
Last Modified:	23 Feb 2023 15:54
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/95362

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