The prevalence of ocular diseases in primary and junior high school students on Orchid Island

Fang-Ling Chang^a, Yi-Ching Lee^a, Nancy Chen^a, Hsi-Pao Hsieh^b, Yi-Hwei Li^c, Ya-Yun Yang^a, Min-Muh Sheu^{a, d, e},

^a Department of Ophthalmology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
^b MA Program for Psychological and Physical Disability and Assistive Technology, Department of Special Education, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
^c Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
^d Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
^e Department of Ophthalmology, Mennonite Christian Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan

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Abstract
Objective

To assess the prevalence of refractive error and ocular diseases in primary and junior high school students on Orchid Island.

Materials and Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of all students in the primary and junior high schools on Orchid Island conducted within 1 week in 2008. Each student received a visual acuity examination without correction with the Landolt-C chart. An experienced ophthalmologist performed associated assessments through retinoscopy, slit lamp, and fundoscopy.

Results

Of the 403 student residents, 260 were primary school students (139 boys and 121 girls) and 143 were junior high school students (74 boys and 69 girls). Visual acuity in two eyes was < 0.1, in 14 eyes was between 0.1 and 0.3, in 34 eyes was between 0.4 and 0.7, in 225 eyes was between 0.8 and 1.0, and in 531 eyes was between 1.2 and 2.0. Myopia was found in 21 students (21/403, 5.21%; 9 primary school students and 12 junior high school students). Four students (4/403, 0.99%) had amblyopia, of whom two had anisometropia (unilateral high hyperopia), one had high astigmatism in both eyes, and the other had unilateral esotropia. Lens dislocation was found in one student (0.25%) with Marfan syndrome. Retinal vasculitis and optic atrophy were found in one student (0.25%) with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Conclusion

Because it is a small, isolated island, Orchid Island still has a unique traditional culture and life style. Therefore the prevalence of myopia in primary school and junior high school students on Orchid Island is low, and 94% of all the students had uncorrected visual acuity above 0.8.

Keywords
Myopia; Orchid Island; Refractive error; Student; Visual acuity