Poor vision among first grade primary school students in Xicheng District of Beijing

Objective To explore the prevalence and correlates of poor vision among first grade primary school students in Xicheng District of Beijing.Methods Cluster sampling method was used to select 3 681 first grade students from schools in Xicheng district in Beijing during Oct 2012.Ophthalmological examination was conducted among all the participants including visual acuity,non-mydriatic computer optometry,insertion optometry,and eye position.The visual acuity was followed up each year in the next 2 years.Results A total of 778 (21.13%) poor vision students were detected from 13 primary schools,with girls (22.59%)higher than boys (19.86%)(x2=4.11,P<0.05).Small pupil testing showed the following common refractive types:simple myopia astigmatism (32.33%),simple myopia (23.23%),compound myopia astigmatism (12.75%),compound hyperopic astigmatism (10.64%),simple hyperopia astigmatism (7.39%),mixed astigmatism (6.74%),simple hyperopia (5.77%) and emmetropia (0.97%).The follow-up investiqation showed that 64.74% of students remained poor vision,14.13% recovered in the following 2 years,9.34% transient recovery in grade 2 and 11.78% recovered in grade 3.Conclusion Myopia and astigmatism are the main causes of poor vision in primary school students in Xicheng District of Beijing.After 2-year follow-up,the proportion of vision recovery is low.Myopia prevention should be implemented during preschool stage and vision care programs during early stage of school year.