Visual acuity of elementary school children in Itumbiara, Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

Visual impairment during childhood can affect development, negatively impacting the learning process and leading to poor academic performance. This approved study was conducted between February and March 2024 at Municipal School Oscar Domingos da Costa in Itumbiara, Goiás, Brazil, with children aged 6-10 from the first to third grades. Ophthalmologic screenings were performed using the Snellen optometric scale by medical students under double-blind conditions. Of 135 children, 47.4% were male and 52.6% female. The majority was in the 2nd grade (60 children), aged 6-7 years, and identified as brown (46.6%). Visual acuity was preserved in most children, with 75% of those with impaired vision being female. Only 36.3% had visited ophthalmologists, and few had chronic diseases. Glasses use was reported by 20% of boys and 80% of girls. Finally, children generally showed better results with glasses (all p<0.05). Collaboration among guardians, pediatricians, and teachers is crucial for kids’ visual health.