The Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Children in Kenya – The Kenya Eye Study
Background: Visual impairment is the partial or complete loss of vision in which the presenting visual acuity lie between 6/18-no perceptions of light. In Kenya, little attention has been directed towards children vision and causes of visual impairment. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the children population of Kenya.
Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 3400 (1800, 52.9% female) randomly selected children with a mean age of 12 ± 2 years (range 5–16 years). Visual acuity was taken using Snellens chart at 6 meters. Anterior and posterior segment was assessed using slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. The World Health Organization definition formed the baseline for calculating the mean prevalence of visual impairment.
Results: Visual acuity measurements were available for 3240 (95.3%) participants. The mean prevalence of visual impairment based on pin-hole value was 1.7 ± 0.3% using World Health Organization definition. The prevalence of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity value was 2.4 ± 0.7% using the World Health Organization definition. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of visual impairment on pin-hole increased significantly with increasing age (odds ratio 1.230, P=.021) and uncorrected refractive error (odds ratio 0.834, P = .032) according to World Health Organization definition. Cases of uncorrected refractive error remained the major cause for presenting visual impairment. Causes of visual impairment due to presenting visual acuity were nystagmus (14%), amblyopia (24%) and uncorrected refractive error (62%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment in Kenya is associated with age. Uncorrected refractive error remains the major causes of visual impairment.
Figure 1
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
On 07 Oct, 2020
On 07 Oct, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
Received 27 Sep, 2020
On 22 Sep, 2020
Received 22 Sep, 2020
On 21 Sep, 2020
On 20 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 20 Sep, 2020
On 19 Sep, 2020
On 19 Sep, 2020
On 13 Sep, 2020
Received 13 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
On 10 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 10 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
On 03 Sep, 2020
Received 03 Sep, 2020
On 17 Aug, 2020
On 08 Aug, 2020
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Received 31 Jul, 2020
On 22 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 21 Jul, 2020
On 07 Jul, 2020
On 06 Jul, 2020
On 06 Jul, 2020
The Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Children in Kenya – The Kenya Eye Study
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
On 07 Oct, 2020
On 07 Oct, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
Received 27 Sep, 2020
On 22 Sep, 2020
Received 22 Sep, 2020
On 21 Sep, 2020
On 20 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 20 Sep, 2020
On 19 Sep, 2020
On 19 Sep, 2020
On 13 Sep, 2020
Received 13 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
On 10 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 10 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
On 03 Sep, 2020
Received 03 Sep, 2020
On 17 Aug, 2020
On 08 Aug, 2020
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Received 31 Jul, 2020
On 22 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 21 Jul, 2020
On 07 Jul, 2020
On 06 Jul, 2020
On 06 Jul, 2020
Background: Visual impairment is the partial or complete loss of vision in which the presenting visual acuity lie between 6/18-no perceptions of light. In Kenya, little attention has been directed towards children vision and causes of visual impairment. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the children population of Kenya.
Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 3400 (1800, 52.9% female) randomly selected children with a mean age of 12 ± 2 years (range 5–16 years). Visual acuity was taken using Snellens chart at 6 meters. Anterior and posterior segment was assessed using slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. The World Health Organization definition formed the baseline for calculating the mean prevalence of visual impairment.
Results: Visual acuity measurements were available for 3240 (95.3%) participants. The mean prevalence of visual impairment based on pin-hole value was 1.7 ± 0.3% using World Health Organization definition. The prevalence of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity value was 2.4 ± 0.7% using the World Health Organization definition. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of visual impairment on pin-hole increased significantly with increasing age (odds ratio 1.230, P=.021) and uncorrected refractive error (odds ratio 0.834, P = .032) according to World Health Organization definition. Cases of uncorrected refractive error remained the major cause for presenting visual impairment. Causes of visual impairment due to presenting visual acuity were nystagmus (14%), amblyopia (24%) and uncorrected refractive error (62%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment in Kenya is associated with age. Uncorrected refractive error remains the major causes of visual impairment.
Figure 1