Prevalence of ocular disorders among schoolboys in five villages in Al-Baha region.

In early summer, 1990, 3590 schoolboys from the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia were assessed for their ocular status. Children from 15 schools were randomly selected to assess eye problems and visual defects. Of the boys examined 3521 (89.7%) had visual acuity of 20/30 or better and 3443 (95.9%) achieved 20/30 or better after correction. The main causes of visual impairment were refractive error in 260 (7.2%) and amblyopia in 58 (1.6%). Seventeen (0.5%) boys had strabismus. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis was found in 204 (5.7%). Four hundred and forty-nine (26.4%) had nonspecific conjunctivitis, 173 (4.8%) had bacterial conjunctivitis, and 28 (0.8%) had blepharitis. Of the five geographical areas surveyed, trachoma was only found in the Aqeek area among 49 (1.4%) schoolboys. Earlier detection and treatment of visual impairment is of paramount importance in decreasing the rate of visual loss among schoolchildren.