Visual impairment is one of the great sufferings of humankind and it is as old as mankind itself. Among the causes of visual impairment, refractive errors figure as one of the leading causes in childhood. According to Indian statistics compiled at R.P.CENTRE, AIIMS, NEW DELHI the leading causes of childhood blindness are Cataract (22.87%), Refractive errors (22.14%) Corneal opacities (12.14%) Squint (6.43%). Prevalence of childhood blindness is estimated to be 0.29%. Refractive error accounts for over 15% of ocular morbidity in 6-14 years age group. Although cataract is the leading cause of visual impairment, it is usually is detected and treated early, whereas refractive errors tend to go unnoticed and hence untreated resulting in a series of complications including squint & amblyopia.

Considering age as a factor, 30% of the blind in India are said to loose their eyesight before they reach the age of 20 years.

Among refractive errors uncorrected high hypermetropia can cause accommodative convergent squint. Congenital high myopia can also lead to divergent squint due to accommodation – convergence dissociation. Early detection and timely correction of refractive errors in the form of glasses or contact lenses can prevent the development of squint and amblyopia.

A Recent Study by the Society’s doctors of a total of 7566 students from various schools and colleges of Jaipur between May-1999 and Aug.-2001, aged between 3-25 years age group revealed the leading cause of ocular morbidity in school and college going children is Refractive errors with 20.35 % children suffering. The prevalence of errors increase with age, most age groups showing more males than females involved. Correction status figures showed an alarming 78.5 % uncorrected females at presentation. Also below 5 years and between 5-10 years age groups showed a huge uncorrected status of 67.8 % and 72.2 %. The importance and need of refractive correction should be discussed, specially with a emphasis on the problems associated with not using correction, the perceived taboos regarding the use of spectacles, and the possibility of substituting spectacles with contact lenses

Hence the need for a specific School Refractive Error Screening Programme is a reality. School teachers can be trained or Ophthalmic assistants deputed to conduct early screening programmes and select the problematic children for evaluation by the Ophthalmologist. Also school teachers need to be made aware that poor performance or in-attentiveness on the part of the child may be an indication of a refractive error.

Early detection and timely treatment of ocular morbidity in Childhood can decrease the economic & social burden of blindness of tomorrow and ensure that no child becomes blind unnecessarily.