Myopia prevalence in school-aged children in Garki District of Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Prevalence of myopia is increasing globally, hence it poses a significant public health risk due to the association of high myopia with debilitating eye disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of myopia in school children. Setting: The study was conducted in primary and secondary schools in Garki district, Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional, multistage, random sampling involving 1028 school children (aged 5-14 years), comprising 484 boys (47.1%) and 544 girls (52.9%), was conducted. Examination performed included visual acuities, pen torch and ophthalmoscopy examination of the anterior and posterior segments, retinoscopy under cycloplegia and subjective refraction. Results: The prevalence of myopia (-0.50 dioptre [D] or more) in this study was 3.5%. Approximately 3.4% of the children had mild myopia (-0.50 to -3.00 D), 0.1% had moderate myopia (-3.25 D to -6.00 D) and none had high myopia. Myopia ranged from -0.50 D to -4.25 D. The mean spherical equivalent for myopia (right eye) was -1.11 D. The prevalence of hyperopia, astigmatism and amblyopia was 5.8%, 1.9% and 0.7%, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of refractive error was 11.2%. Conclusion: The prevalence of myopia is relatively low in a sample of school children in Carki district of Abuja, Nigeria. However, the majority of myopic children in this study without spectacles (88.9%) are a cause for concern, which could reflect the low usage of refractive error services among school children in the district.