Visual acuity and color vision of primary school pupils in Yangzhou, Jiangsu

  Objective   To investigate and analyze the current status of visual acuity and color vision of primary school pupils in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, and provide evidence for policymaking and interventions for children vision health.

  Methods   A total of 7 471 pupils from grade 1 to grade 6 were selected by stratified cluster sampling in 7 primary schools in Yangzhou for visual acuity and color vision tests to understand the prevalence of poor eyesight, color amblyopia and achromatopsia by ophthalmologists.

  Results   Among the primary school pupils, 44.77% had poor eyesight and 13.08% wore glasses. The rates of poor eyesight and glass wearing increased with the grade rising in higher grade pupils. The rates of poor eyesight and glass wearing were significantly higher in urban pupils than in rural pupils. More girls had poor eyesight compared with boys. The incidence rate of color vision deficiency was 1.98% in the primary school pupils, and it was 3.36% in boys and was 0.50% in girls.

  Conclusion   In the primary schools in Yangzhou, the prevalence of poor eyesight increased with grade rising in high grade pupils, and it was higher in girls and in urban area. Color vision deficiency existed in pupils, but the prevalence was significantly higher in boys. It is necessary to suggest parents and teachers to pay attention to the vision health of children and conduct early vision health intervention to reduce the risk for poor eyesight in pupils.