Background :
Refractive error in children aged 5–15 years is an important public health problem. Myopia and hypermetropia are leading causes of refractive errors in this age group. These conditions cause visual impairment but can be significantly improved through appropriate refractive correction. Population-based studies show that nearly half of the correctable visual impairment in children remains unaddressed, particularly among those living in disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions.
Methods :
This observational study was conducted among 100 children from the village Darisharifpur, Upazila Bera, District Pabna, using random sampling. Children aged 9–15 years were included. Data on refractive errors and related variables were collected and analyzed.
Results :
A total of 100 children with visual problems or reduced visual acuity were examined. The prevalence of refractive error was 11%. Myopia was the most common refractive error (46%), followed by hypermetropia (25%) and astigmatism (27%). Among cases, 63.63% had refractive error ranging from −0.50D to −1.99D. Most visual acuity findings were within the range of 6/9 to 6/18.
Conclusion :
Myopia and hypermetropia are the leading causes of refractive errors in children aged 5–15 years. These conditions are visually impairing but can be effectively managed with proper refractive correction.